How to Fight Chronic Fatigue Syndrome With Nutrition

by Helene Malmsio

You probably already know that the Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating condition where the patient suffers from extreme exhaustion that lasts for a prolonged period of time – usually more than 6 months – and comes with several other symptoms.

I know what I'm talking about here, because I have had to fight CFS since I was 17 years old. It isn't easy, but you can win the battle and cope with CFS to enjoy a full life.

Aside from suffering from unexplained fatigue even with minimal physical activity, chronic fatigue syndrome patient also exhibits the following symptoms: muscle pains, tenderness and swelling in the joints, recurring sore throat, impaired concentration and short term memory, severe headaches and un-refreshing sleep.

The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS is yet to be discovered, since there is no 'one cause' and the disease can hit you from many directions and triggers at once.

This makes CFS very difficult to manage, as there are no known cures for it yet.

Some patients are able to relieve the symptoms of CFS by using prescription drugs as well as some over the counter medications.

However, these medications have varying degrees of success.

Sometimes, they have little positive effect at all.

I find that if I even take simple pain killers for more than a couple of days, I tend to feel a toxic buildup of the medication and need to clean it out of my system for a few days before I can take any more.

Still, there are several holistic and alternative treatments that provide CFS patients with options to combat this debilitating disorder.

Since symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are also classic symptoms of many viral infections, doctors and specialists recommend treatments that strengthen the immune system.

Making sure that you have meal plans with proper nutrition is an excellent way to boost the immune system, improve the body's functions and increase the patient's energy levels to overcome the malaise that comes with a CFS attack.

It can be very difficult to make sure you are eating meals that are balanced nutritionally, as you usually don't have much of an appetite anyway, and mostly don't feel up to actually preparing or cooking a meal for yourself.

I find that there are times (especially in Summer) that I live on raw foods because I don't even have to cook the fruit or veges... I just grab them from the basket and eat.

But even then I do find it hard to make myself eat my greens. Its easy to scoff on sweet fruit all day, not so easy to make yourself eat the raw veges, even if they are blended into a cold gazpacho soup.

Get yourself a good juicer, and DRINK yourself healthy, and add some great supplements to your daily diet.

Here are the vitamins and minerals that help boost the immune system:

• B Vitamins –

Vitamin B-12 is one of the most important vitamins.

It helps in the production of red blood cells as well as DNA and the myelin sheath that surround nerve cells.

Receiving the proper amounts of Vitamin B-12 helps in maintaining the body's energy level as well as keeping the central nervous, gastrointestinal, immune and cardiovascular systems healthy.

People with vitamin B-12 deficiency suffer from reduced energy levels, impaired memory and concentration, as well as several gastrointestinal problems.

These are also symptoms that appear during an attack of chronic fatigue syndrome.

The B Vitamins folic acid and pantothenic acid are known to help treat fatigue.

Increasing the intake of these vitamins can have beneficial effects for chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids –

These fatty acids are very essential to health.

Unfortunately, the human body does not produce it naturally.

Taking Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help reduce blood pressure, decrease triglyceride levels, reduce the occurrence of arrhythmias, and stem the growth of plaque in the walls of the arteries.

Again, the symptoms of Omega-3 deficiency are closely related to symptoms of CFS: fatigue, poor memory, depression, heart problems and poor circulation.

• Sodium –

This mineral is necessary to keep the body's fluid balances.

People suffering from CFS may actually have very low levels of sodium in their bodies.

Having the right amount of sodium can have beneficial effects for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

However, patients must consult their doctors first to have their sodium levels tested.

• Other Minerals –

There are several minerals that are beneficial for people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chromium helps patients manage their blood sugar.

Magnesium and potassium aspartates are known to help decrease fatigue in various clinical studies.

Magnesium deficiency interferes with the Krebs cycle, which is responsible for transforming nutrients to energy.

So ensuring the proper supply of magnesium in the body is a good way to combat the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Learn to eat fresh, organic, raw fruit and veg where possible. At least juice yourself some fresh produce.

And try out the various top brands of supplements until you find the one that works for you.

Personally I have been taking the Herbalife manufactured herbal based supplements for nearly 20 years and they are the only ones that seem to help me to cope with CFS. And I have certainly tried every brand on the market in the past 35+ years.

Well, I'm sure this bit of information has helped you to get some idea of how nutrition can help you fight chronic fatigue syndrome, but you can learn a heap more by checking out the Guide section on the site all about this.

Learn more about CFS causes, symptoms and natural fatigue remedies when you read the rest of our information here about: How to treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS.

In that section I also tell you a bit about the book I have co-authored on how to beat CFS.

CFS IS MISUNDERSTOOD - ARE YOU?

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