Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2009 - (Page 38)

| 01/09 Compressed Air Industry ENERGY REBATES | Is Afternoon Fatigue Influencing Your Job Performance? The Explanation and Some Solutions BY DR. DAVID TANTON Millions of Americans have very productive mornings; catching up on e-mails and voicemails, attending meetings and completing projects left over from the day before. Then the clock strikes noon and they head to lunch. Following lunch, they return to their offices, often feeling tired, drained and less-than-productive. While the morning was filled with efficiency, now energy is plummeting fast and the afternoon slump has set in! Many things can contribute to afternoon fatigue, but feeling alert can be critical to both your job performance and your job security. Let’s evaluate what causes the afternoon slump and start to make it a thing of the past. Following is the formula that will make the difference. p What you eat for lunch is important. Following a heavy meal especially, an increased amount of energy will be diverted to the stomach for digestion, leaving less energy for your brain. The combination of foods you consume is also important. For example, meat and starches in combination are slow to digest. Then, eating fruit, or drinking fruit juice with a meal, will greatly increase the digestion time as well. Thus, fruit or fruit juice should be consumed at least 30 minutes before or 2½ hours following a meal. Eating a lighter lunch and chewing thoroughly speeds up digestion. If you are finding it difficult to stay awake at times and are taking medications that could very well be your problem. Of the 200 most prescribed medications, 175 (87.5%) listed “fatigue” or “drowsiness” as possible side effects! Low thyroid (hypothyroid), low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), dehydration or insufficient oxygen can all influence your mental capacity and your ability to remain alert. The hypothyroid condition is surprisingly common, as well as the most often misdiagnosed, or improperly treated condition. Your thyroid is rather like your I.Q. There is a range that is considered normal, although borderline-low is still considered as acceptable by most doctors. Your thyroid function influences how efficiently food is metabolized and oxygen is utilized. The most common symptoms associated with a hypothyroid condition are fatigue, depression and inability to concentrate — all critical to our performance. Anemia, caused by insufficient red blood cells, is one well-known contributor to fatigue. Anemia can result from a low thyroid condition, as well as a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid. And of the 180 most commonly prescribed medications, 61% depleted folic acid, 70% depleted vitamin B12 and the majority actually depleted both! Taking a high-potency vitamin B-complex such as B-100, along with 50 mg of Coenzyme Q10, twice daily, (upon rising and at noon), can help maintain your energy level and prevent fatigue throughout the day. p p p p 38 www.airbestpractices.com http://www.airbestpractices.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2009

Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2009 Contents From the Editor Utility-Air News Compressed Air Audit of the Month: A Nitrogen Audit at Boeing Air Standards: New ASME & ISO Standards for Compressed Air System Assessments Energy Rebates Assist Industrial Sustainability Initiatives Seven Sustainability Projects for Industrial Energy Savings: Project #1: Lighting Optimization Minimum Supply Wire Size Recommendations for Compressor Packages Utilizing Variable Frequency Drives The Pneumatic Advantage: Pneumatics Bring Precision and Reliability to Furniture Industry Specialist Personal Productivity: Is Afternoon Fatigue Influencing Your Job Performance? The Explanation and Some Solutions. Resources for Energy Engineers: Training Calendar & Product Picks Wall Street Watch Advertiser Index Classifieds

Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2009

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