What you eat can make all the difference in your energy levels. While there are many potential causes of fatigue, nutrition can play a fundamental role in how sluggish or energised you feel on a daily basis. If you or your patients are tired all the time, simple dietary changes are a good first step to tackle the problem.

Anti-inflammatory foods

Researchers studying breast cancer developed the official “fatigue reduction diet.”

Haß U, Herpich C, Norman K. Anti-inflammatory diets and fatigue. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2315.

In a study of 40 cancer survivors, researchers identified some notable differences between the diets of those who had higher vs lower levels of fatigue.

Zick SM, Sen A, Han-Markey TL, et al. Examination of the association of diet and persistent cancer-related fatigue: a pilot study. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2013;40:E41–E49.

A follow-up pilot study confirmed these effects by placing 30 breast cancer survivors on a 3-month diet with high intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 foods, with low saturated fat intake.

Zick SM, Colacino J, Cornellier M, et al. Fatigue reduction diet in breast cancer survivors: a pilot randomized clinical trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2017;161:299–310.

Along similar lines, the anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce fatigue in post-menopausal women.

Su Y, Cochrane BB, Reding K, et al. Mediterranean diet and fatigue among community-dwelling postmenopausal women. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatr. 2022;41(1):22-45.

Specifically, “substituting fish for red and processed meat and whole grains for non-whole grains was associated with improvements in overall fatigue, energy, and weariness scores,” per researchers publishing in the Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics.

Su Y, Cochrane BB, Reding K, et al. Mediterranean diet and fatigue among community-dwelling postmenopausal women. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatr. 2022;41(1):22-45.

Foods that fight anaemia

Iron deficiency is associated with fatigue, impaired concentration, weakness, and poor immune function.

Iron. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health. Updated June 15, 2023.

Obtaining iron from food rather than supplements avoids potential side effects and medication interactions. Many people assume that red meat is the best way to get enough iron. However, this goes against recommendations to reduce red meat intake to promote better health and energy levels. Patients can be educated on the various non-red meat iron sources, which include the following:

• Fortified cereals

• Cooked oysters

• White beans

• Lentils

• Cooked spinach

• Firm tofu

• Dark chocolate

• Kidney beans

• Sardines

• Chickpeas

• Stewed tomatoes

Although heme iron (from animal sources) is more readily absorbed, consuming vitamin C significantly increases the bioavailability of non-heme iron. Squeezing lemon on sauteed spinach or having a glass of orange juice with a bowl of lentil soup are examples of how to combine vitamin C with non-heme iron foods.

Balanced meals help stabilize blood sugar

The term “balanced diet” is frequently recommended for nutritional adequacy and sufficient energy intake. However, not everyone has the same understanding of what a balanced diet actually means. 

Choosing foods that are lower on the glycemic index scale helps achieve a balanced diet.

What Is the Glycemic Index? Cleveland Clinic. Updated October 20, 2021.

Post-meal blood sugar spikes are lower and slower after consuming low-glycemic foods. This helps prevent blood sugar rushes and crashes that get in the way of stable energy levels.

Research on lupus patients suggests that a low-glycemic index diet improves fatigue.

Jiao H, Acar G, Robinson GA, et al. Diet and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): from supplementation to intervention. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(19):11895.

It’s also a good way to eat for people with diabetes or those who are tired of being tired all the time.

For patients who have limited baseline nutrition knowledge, MyPlate.gov has simple visuals to help guide conversations about the different food groups and how to build a balanced plate for more sustained energy.

A holistic approach to managing fatigue

Fatigue is common in those with cancer, depression, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases. However, even relatively healthy people report fatigue at rates as high as 40% of the population.

Haß U, Herpich C, Norman K. Anti-inflammatory diets and fatigue. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2315.

Patients complaining of fatigue should receive a comprehensive assessment of their medical history and a workup of their cardiopulmonary and neurological function.

Along with nutrition, review sleep hygiene and physical activity guidelines. Treating any underlying conditions should be the first priority. In addition, complementary therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy and acupuncture could benefit patients with fatigue from chronic disease.