What vitamins can I take for fatigue?

Q. I have had symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome for 3 months now. I am very fatigued after any form of exertion. After a good nights sleep, I don't feel my body is refreshed. Are there any vitamins I can take that can give me any sort of energy?

A. Here's what I have for you regarding chronic fatigue"

Possible causes of chronic fatigue:

* Environmental Toxins

If you can't find another source of fatigue, you may be suffering from exposure to indoor pollutants. The usual culprits...

- Benzene - Found in linoleum and degreasers

- Formaldehyde - Found in carpets and drapes

- Lead - Found in tap water and house paint

- Nitrogen Dioxide - Released by kerosene heaters, gas stoves and furnaces

- Mercury - Found in dental fillings and some house paints

- Trichloroethylene - Used in dry-cleaning. Have your home tested for environmental toxins.

Consider having your doctor test your blood and hair. If traces of toxins are found, add the following to your diet; Selenium, Vitamin E, Beta-carotene, Garlic and Sodium Alginate. They help rid the body of toxic metals. Cilantro and Chlorella also are very effective at removing heavy metals.

Sugar

In many cases, fatigue is the result of eating too much sugar. Sugar and refined carbohydrates make your blood sugar rise. This signals the pancreas to produce insulin. Too much insulin leads to "hypoglycemia" (low blood sugar), which causes extreme fatigue.

Nutritional Approaches

Although there is no known cure for CFS, certain nutrients in foods may help. Doctors stress the importance of a well-balanced diet.

Start with ample starches - Fruits and vegetables help to provide the carbohydrates the body needs for energy. They also supply the vitamins needed to resist infection.

Avoid alcohol - It lowers immunity, so should be avoided, and caffeinated drinks should be used in moderation to minimize sleep problems.

Eat to strengthen your immune system - Foods rich in zinc, such as seafood( especially oysters), meats, poultry, eggs, milk, beans, nuts, and whole grains, as well as foods rich in Vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, berries, melons, kiwis, broccoli, and cauliflower, may help keep the immune system working properly. A sound immune system can help ward off certain viruses, such as flu and colds that may possibly precede the onset of CFS.

Consume more fatty acids - Some of the symptoms of CFS include swollen glands and inflammation of the joints, which may be relieved temporarily by foods rich in essential fatty acids. These include fish, nuts, seeds, flaxseed and flaxseed oil, canola oil, wheat germ, and leafy green vegetables.

Take Magnesium - Fully 90-95% of us are deficient in magnesium and fatigue is one of the symptoms associated with magesium deficiency. Magnesium is also associated with the contraction and relaxation of muscles. Getting more of the mineral may help alleviate muscle tenderness in people with CFS. Good food sources include sunflower seeds, avocados, and amaranth.

Supergreen foods, widely available in powder form, couldhelp significantly. I like the Dr. Schulze formula if you can find it.

Blackstrap molasses might be good healthy addition.

To treat hormone-related fatigue, reduce your consumption of alcohol, meat and dairy products. Eat more dietary fiber and less sugar and refined foods. Take supplements of "gamma linolenic acid(GLA). GLA is found in primrose oil, borage oil and black currant seed oil. All are available at health-food stores.

Many people report increased energy when they take plant derived trace minerals, as do people who take a product called OxyGen.

Other helpful supplements include Vitamin B-15 (or Vitamin B complex), L-carnitine, Octacosanol, a wheat germ extract, and ginseng.

Finally, it may be a very good idea to take a comprehensive whole food derived nutritonal product such as intraMAX or Dr. Mercola's Whole Food Multi-Vitamin Plus to insure that you have no deficiencies in any nutrient and get plenty of immune and energy boosting items (intraMAX contains 415 different nutrients).

Good luck!

Original Question

What are the importance of taking folic acid and vitamin B complex at the age of 50 years and above?

Q. I am asking this question because i was advised by my doctor to regulary take vitamin tablets

A. life extension has some great multivitamin/mineral tablets...my friend is now 70, he takes them, and looks about 45 or 50. Taking poorly mixed amounts of vitamins and minerals is not good either, so if your going to take something, I'd do life extension. There is a lot of research and study necessary for you to know what they know about relationships and interrelationships, there is no B vitamin on the market with enough folic acid in it...and they can increase your need for the ones undersupplied and actually cause a deficiency. If you are deficient in folic acid you will know because you will get out of breath when you walk up stairs...and larger amounts can only be got by prescription or in Canada...it s in leafy green vegetables. Not that it's dangerous, unless your a strict vegetarian, and you don't take your B-12, and get pernicious anemia, and are taking folic acid, folic acid will mask the symptoms of pernicious anemia, so they took it away from all of us in any amounts will do anything, and is very bad for the babies to be undersupplied on this vitamin. Also a lot of multivitamin/mineral have iron in them, which I am totally against...since it destroys your vitamin E which protects your vitamin A and constipates you...they trying to get us used to doctors telling us take vitamins cuz they want to make them by perscrition only, therefore getting all the money and having us depend on our health 100% on doctors...itsbig now doctors telling everyone they need vitamin D-3, doctors have no training in nutrition, ie, how foods are broken down in your body and how the nutrients are used to make and keep you young and healthy, and if they are taught this, the schools lose their grants..ask your doc what training he had in this! lol.if you want to learn about it easy and fun buy a used copy of lets eat right to keep fit, by Adelle Davis...she saved my life when the doctors couldn't and I have lived off her information without going to doctors for 33 years, except once when I had to have surgery...she also wrote lets get well, both fully documented, lets eat right to keep fit telling you why, lets get well telling you what to do...their so fascinating I couldn't set them down till I read them3 times and took notes from them twice! My girlfriend raised her children on the information (supplied by me!) lol, and never had to take them to the doctors, we even stopped a nosebleed that was real bad in 4 minutes!! Sorry, I know this is more than you asked for, But Adelle Davis inspired a passion in me, changed my life forever for the better, and there is so much to learn about this, one sentence, could barely tell you anything! Good luck, here's to your health! and that you live forever! If you can find the question just above... she wants to go to counselling, for cutting herself, and her mom wants her to take vitamins...I copied some of the first paragraph of Adelle's book for her, its so neat! in my answer.

Original Question

Has anyone had success with Immunical or B12 injections for Multiple Sclerosis?

Q. If not, what have you had success with when it comes to treating symptoms related to walking, etc?

A. When I have paralysis I take steroids. For the general weakness and clumsiness, I don't take anything, I just adapt.

There are several clinical trials at various stages studying antibiotic therapy and MS (Vitamins D3 and E). They are in stage Phase I and II. Phase I tests a new drug/treatment on a small group to evaluate its safety, determine safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
In Phase II, the study drug or treatment is given to a larger group to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.

A good neurologist should rule out a Vitamin B12 deficiency before they diagnose you with MS. They may also check your B12 level periodically when you are having flairs. If your B12 level is normal, you do not need a supplement. Here is a link for info on vitamins, minerals, and herbs:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/download.aspx?id=154

Original Question

What is folic acid ? Does it really help to prevent a heart attack ?

Q. Give alternatiave names of folic acid i.e. local or country names. Also tell in what food items the folic acid is present. How much folic acid do I need as daily intake. I am 56 and 186 pounds, with sligh B.P. problem.

A. Folic acid is a B vitamin, I think it is B8. Also called Folacin, and the natural form in foods is Folate. It is essential for the synthesis of DNA. Deficiency symptoms are constipation, anemia, slowed metabolism, fatigue, depression. Deficiency also can cause birth defects. Best sources include liver, green leafy vegetables, especially spinach, broccoli, peanuts. We typically need 4-600 micrograms (.4 - .6 milligrams) daily, but for people with high blood levels of homocycteine doctors usually recommend 800mcg or more. Yes, folic acid does help prevent a heart attack by reducing the homocycteine which greatly facilitates buildup of plaque in the arteries. B vitamins work together, so your doctor will probably want you to supplement your intake of B12 and B6. There is an Rx form called Foltx, but it might not have enough 12 and 6. Some people think that Folate, the natural form in foods, is much better than Folic Acid. It also is available in a supplement. Be sure to talk to your doctor first before beginning any B vitamin supplements. Also, if you take a multiple vitamin, check its contents, many include 400mcg of folic acid. Be careful of what you might read on the internet. There's at least one site that confused milligrams with grams.

Original Question

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