Do you have frequent pains in your body, such as headaches, aches and pains, hay fever, fatigue, anxiety, skin rashes and inflammation? What if these pains and symptoms in your body, were actually a way for your body to communicate with you.

It has been ingrained within us to stop listening to these symptoms, to go for the ‘quick fix’ and mask it with an antihistamine, a pain killer or an anti-inflammatory drug. We also often go through life living with a symptom, not even knowing that it isn’t normal or that you could potentially live without the pain.

This was me. I had no idea that the symptoms I was experiencing could actually be a way in which my body was communicating with me. I had serious fatigue, constant sinus problems, skin rashes, digestive issues and a ‘foggy’ mind. If I didn’t ‘wake up’ and start to listen to what my body was telling me instead of containing to use antihistamines and pain killers as a ‘band aid’ solution; my symptoms could have developed into a worse illness, such as depression, an autoimmune disease or even cancer.

I was holding myself back from thriving and living life to its fullest. This could be where you are right now too.

Here are a few common symptoms that you might be ignoring.

Fatigue

Usually masked with: coffee, energy drinks, sugar, chocolate and napping every day 

What it may be telling you:

• You may have adrenal issues. This occurs when your cortisol levels spike at the wrong times, resulting in you feel fatigued throughout the day and feeling more awake at night time. You can get a saliva test to test your cortisol levels to discover if this is your issue. Try cutting out caffeine slowly (or limit it to one cup per day), adapting de-stressing techniques, and include adaptogenic herbs into your diet like tulsi, ashwaghanda and ginseng.
• You may be dehydrated. Are you drinking enough water? Aim to drink 2-3 litres per day, and even better add some apple cider vinegar, lemon or lime to the water for some extra electrolytes.
• Your mitochondria, the energy powerhouse within all your cells,  may need some extra nutrition to be able to fully function. Your mitochondria needs a constant and abundant supply of nutrition. Iron, magnesium, vitamin B12 and iodine are all crucial nutrients for a healthy mitochondria.
• You may be iron deficient – Iron is required to carry oxygen throughout the body which is critical for energy. Consider consuming liver, plenty of greens, red meats, seafood and beans prepared correctly by soaking or fermenting.
• You may be magnesium deficient – Magnesium is required for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is required for energy transfer within the cell. Cacao is a great source of magnesium, along with leafy greens, various types of nuts, and I personally have a magnesium salt bath at least once a week to replenish magnesium through my skin.
• You may be vitamin B12 deficient – Vitamin B12 is critical in the production of energy in the mitochondria.
• Iodine deficient – Iodine is essential for your thyroid hormones which are crucial for energy production. Try incorporating kelp noodles and dulse flakes in your diet regularly, or consider getting a urinary iodine test.

Headaches

Usually masked with: pain killers, sleep, hiding away in a dark room!  

What it may be telling you:

• A reaction to a food or food ingredient. This MUST be considered and shouldn’t be masked by pain killers as the trigger may manifest itself in other health problems in the future. It is proven here and here that certain foods can be a trigger. The most common triggers may be wheat, dairy, corn, food additives like MSG and more.
• You may have a magnesium deficiency. Some say that all patients with headaches and migraines should be treated with magnesium, though blood testing can sometimes be inaccurate for finding out if you have a true deficiency. It is best to treat yourself regardless if you are a regular sufferer of headaches or migraines.
• Dehydration. Aim to drink 2-3 litres of water per day and accompany this with some electrolytes from a squeeze of lemon, lime and/or apple cider vinegar. You may also require a pinch of salt to replenish your sodium levels.
• You may also need a chiropractic adjustment as a body that isn’t aligned is often the cause of headaches and migraines.

Sinus

Usually masked with: Anti-histamines, nasal sprays and tissues!

What it may be telling you:

• Underlying fungal infection. Fungi has been found in the mucous of those suffering chronic sinus, in fact in one study it was found that this was the cause of sinus problems in 96% of people. The reaction was being caused by the body’s reaction to fungus like Candida Albicans. Candida can be found within the body, not just in the sinuses, and generally it begins in the gut. Sugar feeds fungal infections, so begin by reducing all forms of sugar and seek professional, holistic advice to treat a potential infection.
• Previous or current mould exposure can be a large trigger of sinus problems. It is important to remove the trigger, and also consider seeking treatment from a holistic health practitioner. You can be affected for some time after the exposure, as biofilms can be created over the fungus.
• Food sensitivities can also be a trigger, as the sinus’s and mucous is one way for your body to release something it may perceive as foreign or not meant to be there. Milk is a common cause of sinus problems, though there may be other allergies that may be the underlying cause such as gluten, corn and soy.

This may urge you to dig a little deeper into your health and your symptoms. Testing is the best way to determine what is going on. Blood testing, saliva testing, urine testing and stool testing are just some of the methods by which you can discover what the underlying cause of your symptoms is. However, you can also listen to your symptoms, use your intuition and eat a nutrient rich diet free of processed foods and watch yourself thrive.

What experiences have you had with eliminating niggly health problems? What specifically worked for you?

Sheridan Williamson

Changing Habits Nutritionist and GAPs practitioner