Chronic
fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition that has become widespread in
the United States. Symptoms associated with CFS include aching muscles and joints,
anxiety,
depression, difficulty concentrating, fever, headaches,
intestinal problems, irritability,
jaundice, loss of appetite, mood swings, muscle spasms, recurrent upper respiratory tract
infections, sensitivity to light and heat, sleeping problems, sore throat, swollen glands (lymph nodes),
temporary
memory loss and most of all, extreme and often disabling fatigue.
The symptoms of this syndrome resemble those of flu and other viral
infections, so it is often mistaken for other disorders. It is often misdiagnosed as hypochondria, psychosomatic
illness, or depression, because routine medical tests do not detect any problems. The syndrome
is three times more prevalent in women than in men, and primarily affects young adults between the
ages of 20 and 40 years old.
A
good indicator of chronic fatigue syndrome is persistent fatigue that is not helped by sleep and that is severe enough to lower your average daily activity by at least 50%.
The
cause or causes of chronic fatigue syndrome are not well understood.
Some experts believe it is linked to infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a member of
the herpes virus family that is also the cause of
mononucleosis. This belief is based in large part on the
fact that many people with chronic fatigue syndrome have been found to have high levels of EBV antibodies
in their blood, and that many people date the onset of symptoms to a prolonged bout with a viral
infection. However, no connection between EBV and chronic fatigue has
ever been conclusively proved. Moreover, it is now known that many people have high EBV antibody levels without any apparent
ill effects on their health, and that many cases of chronic fatigue occur without any known
preceding infection. This has led researchers to look for other possible causes.
Some suspect an as yet
unidentified immune system problem, or a defect in the mechanisms that regulate blood pressure.
Other proposed causes of chronic fatigue syndrome include anemia, chronic
mercury
poisoning
from amalgam dental fillings, hypoglycemia,
hypothyroidism, infection
with the fungus Candida and sleep problems. Fibromyalgia, a muscle
disorder that causes muscle weakness and fatigue, has been found in
many people with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Intestinal parasites are also
comparatively common in people with this condition. It is likely that there are different
combinations of factors that can result in chronic fatigue in susceptible individuals.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Essential
fatty acids |
10 |
helps strengthen
your body's immune system which is weaken by
chronic fatigue syndrome. Fatty acids are found
in omega fatty acids from
fish oil, flax seed oil, and borage seed oil. |
Acidophilus |
10 |
replaces needed bacteria that are helpful to
your digestion and also helps fight candida
infection. Sometimes found is a vitamin and herbal blend. |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin E,
vitamin B , vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, selenium, potassium, and
zinc which all are helpful in
both the treatment and prevention of chronic
fatigue syndrome as well as general good health and well being. |
Garlic |
9 |
garlic has been
shown to inhibit the formation of free radicals
which can benefit people with chronic fatigue
syndrome . Garlic also helps boost the immune
system. A combination
herbal immune system remedy often includes
garlic. |
Lecithin |
9 |
aids with energy and
builds the immune system |
Carnitine |
9 |
used to transport
fatty acids into cellular mitochondria where they are used to
create ATP and thus raise energy levels |
Magnesium |
9 |
mineral that helps
with stress and is needed for ATP production |
Carotenoids |
9 |
protects the
cells |
vitamin E |
9 |
free radical killer
working with carotenoids and vitamin A |
vitamin C |
9 |
strong antiviral
properties and helps to increase energy |
vitamin
B12 |
9 |
a good natural energy
booster |
Pantothenic
acid |
9 |
is required for good
adrenal function in the body |
Reishi |
8 |
reishi mushroom serves both to boost the
body's immune system which is weakened by CFS. Normally found in
an immune system herbal mixture. |
Olive
leaf extract |
8 |
this herb has natural anti-biotic
and antiviral properties |
Bioflavonoids |
8 |
bioflavonoids are powerful anti-viral agents
and they can increase energy levels. Found in fruit and vegetable
based supplements. |
Grape Seed extract |
7 |
powerful anti-oxidant for healing |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|