book excerpt
VITAMINS – THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE
The first thing that is a must is a multi-vitamin. If you’re still a woman of childbearing age with all your pieces and parts, then you need a supplement with iron and folic acid in it. Even if you’re past your childbearing years, or if you’re a man, iron is still essential for the person who has fibromyalgia. We’ll discuss why in the next chapter. Find the most comprehensive multi-vitamin you can. I take a generic version of Centrum Silver™, but there are many other brands out there. Read the labels, and decide which suits your needs best.
In addition to a regular multi-vitamin, you’ll need to add a few individual vitamins to your regimen. They may be included in the brand of multi-vitamin you choose, but usually it’s not enough to make a dent in the symptoms of FMS.
Most people who have FMS also have problems with absorption in the digestive tract. Not only do we not absorb all the nutrients contained in our food, but our bodies fail to utilize these nutrients adequately. It’s often necessary to take larger doses to achieve the desired effect. You want to get those energy levels up, start that exercise program and reclaim as much of your life as possible. However, you don’t want to endanger your health either, so read the bottle and pay close attention to the limits of each supplement listed.
The first thing is to find a B-complex vitamin. The B vitamins help convert carbohydrates to energy – and that’s what we’re after! Energy!
Certain B vitamins are also essential for healthy nerve cells, especially in the brain; for digestion and healthy skin; for maintenance of the central nervous system; and for brain functioning. However, some of them can be toxic in excess. Find a B-complex vitamin that combines all of them in one. A B-50 complex or B-100 complex will be adequate.
If I find my energy failing towards the early afternoon, I take a second dose of my B-complex supplement. This often has the desired effect of getting me through the rest of my day without my tongue (or my rump!) dragging the floor.
Vitamin C is another one to add to your daily regimen. Vitamin C is known to help the immune system, but did you know it’s also necessary for maintaining healthy connective tissue? I take a 500 mg supplement. No known toxicity is associated with excessive Vitamin C, as it is water-soluble and removed from the body through the kidneys.
Categories
