Vitamins Galore

Each person is genetically unique. We all have different nutritional needs, which are met in different ways. Individual requirements vary with age, gender, stress, illness, lifestyle and environmental factors. To prevent deficiency, recommended dietary allowances (RDI's) have been established. RDI's are calculated to meet the needs of healthy people. However many experts agree that if you eat a well balanced diet you can get your supply of vitamins and minerals through food that your body requires. The only problem is not all of us are able to eat a healthy well balanced diet all the time, this may be because of lifestyle factors, poor appetite or digestion problems, which may be affected due to illness.

When I first became ill with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) I knew my diet needed supplementation. Although I ate a balanced diet I was sensitive to dairy and yeast products and felt I needed more than the RDI to help my body cope with the stress it was under. I was so confused with which vitamin/mineral to supplement my diet with the large variety on the market. At one stage I was taking twelve different vitamins a day and wasn't seeing any improvement. So I started reading up on what my body really needed instead of just taking what everyone else had recommended.

Magnesium

There have been research studies overseas, which have proven that magnesium can aid in the recovery of CFS. The mineral magnesium is essential for the production of energy. It is important for cellular growth and repair, for maintaining healthy bones, heart muscles, blood vessels, and metabolism and in transporting substances to the cell membranes. Deficiencies in magnesium include fatigue, muscular cramps, cold hands and feet, headaches, insomnia and shortness of breath (the many symptoms of CFS).

Calcium

Like many, during the first six months of CFS it was impossible to do any type of regular exercise. It wasn't that I had become lazy, or unmotivated, my body just wouldn't go! I was constantly exhausted and during this time I lost my strength and muscle tone. I had become so weak that even picking up the phone had become too heavy. To this day I am still very weak and frail and now supplement my diet with a calcium tablet. Calcium is a must for maintaining strong bones and teeth, and a healthy heart and the nervous system. Deficiencies of calcium can lead to bone thinning or osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart disease and muscular cramps.

Essential Fatty Acids

There are good fats and bad fats. The good fats are the essential fatty acids, polyunsaturated fats that are necessary for maintaining healthy body function. Omega 3 and Omega 6 makes up the fatty acids. The body can't make up these fats so through supplementation and diet, we must obtain these fats. The essential fatty acids play an important part in energy production, immune function and strong healthy membranes in every cell of the body. Deficiencies in the essential fatty acids may include fatigue, immune weakness, depression, cardiovascular disease and arthritis.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant that can also aid in recovery to CFS. Vitamin C improves the immune system, aids in viral infections, allergies, strengthens the blood vessel walls and helps hormone production. Deficiencies in Vitamin C may include joint pain, depression, bruising easily and fluid retention, although copious amounts can lead to diarrhoea, stomach cramps and kidney stones.

Multivitamins

Good quality multivitamins are a must for a person's diet as they contain a source of calcium and iron, is an antioxidant intake and are filled with vitamins, minerals and herbs.

In my case, I have not fully recovered from CFS but as every sufferer knows CFS is unfortunately a long and slow process. However, I can say that with the help of the supplements Magnesium, Calcium, Essential Fatty Acids, Vitamin C and a Multivitamin I do feel better and hopefully will continue to improve daily!

- S.C.