Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is characterized by persistent or relapsing debilitating fatigue for at least 6 months in the absence of any other definable diagnosis. Symptoms of CFS may include depression, hypotension, weight loss, and inability to endure stress.

Over time, CFS can make life miserable, wearing down the body, depressing the spirit, and making a person much more vulnerable to a wide range of related illnesses. Living with CFS can be even more difficult when the individual--and those others around him or her--do not fully understand the factors behind this debilitating condition.

CFS is often part of a complex, multifactorial health condition. There are myriad possible internal and external mechanisms whereby the body's metabolic system can get thrown "out of whack" and induce feelings of exhaustion--and many of these mechanisms are interrelated.

The following are possible underlying causes and contributing factors of both fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). It is important to distinguish between the two conditions, because each one can be triggered by different mechanisms in the body, and thus may have very different diagnostic indicators.

CFS and Adrenal Hormones: Chronically high or low levels of powerful adrenal hormones can wear the body down and produce feelings of exhaustion.

CFS and Detoxification: Fatigue can develop from toxic stress when the liver is no longer able to detoxify the body's harmful waste by-products and heavy metals begin accumulating from external exposure.

CFS and Oxidative Stress: Oxidative stress caused by unstable free radical molecules can damage the energy-producing mechanisms inside the body's cells.

CFS and Gastrointestinal Parasites: The incidence of infection from gastrointestinal parasites is increasing in the U.S., and once these microscopic creatures establish themselves inside the GI tract, they can dramatically sap the body's energy.

CFS and Digestive Function: Fatigue is often triggered by malabsorption of important nutrients, along with the overgrowth of intestinal yeasts such as Candida albicans.

CFS and Glucose and Insulin: Insulin and glucose are two key hormones highly involved in the body's regulatory action of fuel metabolism.

CFS and Allergies: Fatigue and allergic sensitivity often go hand-in hand, with a multitude of possible allergenic substances hidden in the food we eat.

CFS and Toxins and Nutrients: Exposure to toxins from the environment, especially in combination with key nutrient shortages, can be an insidious source of chronic fatigue.

CFS and Fatty Acids: Identifying and treating fatty acid deficiencies has been shown to increase energy levels in many patients with chronic fatigue.

CFS and Amino Acids: As the primary source of important proteins, amino acids play a key role in the body's production of energy.


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