Where is My Energy?

It's a frequently posed question: Why am I so tired all the time?

It is the one thing that some of us just can’t seem to get enough of. There are times when you may feel a little lethargic or just run down but for many this daily fatigue is a way of life. Maybe the couch has become your home instead of a resting spot. After lunch has become a nightmare because all you want to do is take a nap. And of course there is going to bed at seven in the evening because your body is too tired to stay awake.

For many people finding the energy to make it through the day is a huge struggle. Getting simple things done can be such a chore. I have found myself in this state and when doing laundry, cooking dinner or just taking care of my kids seems like a huge feat; I know my body is screaming out for more than a cup of coffee.

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In our fast paced world many times there is no time for a healthy meal. Eat and run has become common rather than a now and again thing to do. Pre-packaged food is waiting for a quick microwave and dinner is done. With our fast paced lives we have given up more than just a home cooked meal. The more we consume foods that are pre-packaged the more we are depleting our bodies of vital nutrition. The trick to balance everything in life is a tough one and sometimes impossible. Something has to be pushed on the shelf for tomorrow but when it is your daily in-take of healthy food your body will make you pay the price later. It always catches up with us and I am no stranger to finding the simple way to get everything done. But the price is high.

Have you found yourself feeling like a vacuum is sucking all the energy out of your body? When you get out of bed and ten minutes later feel like you could use another full nights sleep: Something is wrong. The mission is to find out what your body needs to feel like you have your own energizer bunny inside — ready to keep going and going (in a balanced and healthy way of course!).

“Many people consume foods fortified with vitamin B, but the typical American diet high in processed, cooked and microwavable food gives us only a fraction of the B-vitamins we need for good health. There are a number of ways to make up for this deficiency, but liquid multivitamins are considered to have the advantage when it comes to your body.”

Vitamin B1 also known as thiamine is important to the body fro several major functions. Thiamine is necessary for the adrenal glands in their function, your immune systems performance and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. But Thiamine also plays a key role in the metabolism of food and alcohol.

Lifestyle makes a big difference in how much or how little Thiamine your body needs. As we get older our body seems to need more of this key B vitamin. Result from an unhealthy lifestyle, old age or disease. Seniors typically have lower thiamin levels and should be aware of symptoms such as poor memory, fatigue, muscle weakness and blindness, and in time even heart disease, brain damage or death can be the result of too little Thiamine.

Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin is the energy vitamin. It is essential in terms of oxygen use in the body. Fatigue is a result of poor levels of B2 and energy production will stay very low without this vitamin. The symptoms of low riboflavin include fatigue, blindness, anemia and crusting around the mouth. Sometimes Riboflavin is often prescribed to combat headaches and research suggests that use of B2 may play a large role in the prevention of cancer. That’s a good enough reason all by itself to take B2.

Vitamin B3 is Niacin and is also an energy B vitamin. But Niacin is also used to treat high cholesterol. Other uses for B3 are treatment of schizophrenia, neurological diseases and Raynaud's syndrome-a blood vessel disorder.

The Niacin flush

Some people usually those with fair skin sometimes get what is called a Niacin flush. It is very common and should not cause alarm. Here is what happens, as your body starts to use the Niacin you may turn bright red in the face and may even notice a slight temperature change for a few minuets. This does not happen to everyone but for those of you who it does happen to, it is a sure sign your B-Vitamins are working.

B5 is known, as Pantothenic Acid. This one is also for energy production. It is also required for proper immune function and adrenal stress hormone production. It is sometimes referred to as the "anti-stress" vitamin.

B6-Pyridoxine works with Folic Acid to regulate the levels of homocysteine. This is a byproduct of protein breakdown that damages arteries and makes them prone to cholesterol deposits. This is a very important vitamin in our Cholesterol clogged society.

Folic acid is especially important for women of childbearing age. Deficiencies in Folic Acid have been linked to birth defects. Women on birth control pills, pregnant women, as well as alcoholics, heart disease patients and people taking antibiotics should make sure they are taking Folic Acid every single day. I cannot stress this enough, especially for pregnant women.

B12 or Cobalamin is required for normal gene function, once again-energy production, the formation of blood cells and proper immunity.

Biotin is required for fat and protein metabolism, effective immunity and gene function. Biotin deficiency is most common in the elderly, people with diabetes and in those who take too many antibiotics.

Paraminobenzoic acid or PABA for short, is necessary for the metabolism of amino acids and in the formation of blood. Biotin and PABA deficiencies are rare and people can usually get enough from a good B-complex-supplement.

B-Complex is vital to a healthy body. Many foods a re fortified with B-Vitamins but only a select few instead of every B-vitamin your body needs. For these vitamins to work properly in the body they need to be in a combination for because so many of them work together and taking one by itself will not provide the proper balance.

As we have pointed out many of the B-vitamins are specifically for energy in the body and if you are feeling rundown or fatigued this could very well be the problem. You need B-Complex. Give it a try and see if you can combat the energy drain!

“By health I mean the power to live a full, adult, living, breathing life in close contact with... the earth and the wonders thereof - the sea - the sun.”Katherine Mansfield

N Acetyl L Cysteine (NAC)

For ease we will refer to it as NAC. NAC is made from the amino acid cysteine joined to an acetyl group. Acetyl cysteine is a powerful antioxidant.

NAC can be taken either orally or intravenously, under supervision by a Healthcare practitioner. It is often given to people to prevent liver or kidney damage and it is used to treat problems in these areas of the body as well. Damage to the liver and kidneys caused from overdose of acetaminophen (an over the counter headache drug) are often treated with NAC.

In people that sufferer from heart disease, studies with NAC have been effective especially when it is taken along side nitroglycerin. But further studies are still needed to confirm these findings.

A review of scientific studies also found that NAC might help dissolve mucus and improve symptoms associated with chronic bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis and emphysema. Chronic smokers also may benefit from NAC supplementation. Studies on large groups of people have found that NAC appears to have cancer prevention properties in people who are at risk for lung cancer.

HIV/AIDS

HIV infections are considered to be a condition where free radicals destroy the body and weaken the immune system to the point where it cannot fight off illness. The antioxidant glutathione, which is found in the human body, is greatly depleted in people who suffer from HIV. It is believed that NAC supplementation can strengthen the immune system and help in the fight against infection.

Although these finding are good news for HIV sufferers It is believed that the three year study still needs more research to confirm these findings.

Low levels of cysteine may be linked to an increased risk of cervical cancers Preliminary evidence also suggests that that NAC supplements may help with people who suffer from dry mouth or dry eyes, help treat Hepatitis C, increase the good cholesterol in your body (HDL), Slow the progress of motor impairment diseases such as Lou Gehrig's disease, and enhance functioning in some individuals with Alzheimer's disease, as well as the prevention of cataracts.

The list of conditions in the body that can be improved or changed by talking NAC as a supplement seems to multiply as time goes on. The use of NAC has now been shown reduce the growth and expansion of certain cells lining the colon. NAC may even reduce the risk of colon cancer in people with recurrent polyps in the colon. NAC has been used for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, angina pectoris, gastritis, and heart attacks.

NAC has not been found to have any sedative or stimulant effects, and tolerance is excellent for the vast majority of people who take it regularly. NAC seems to be the answer when it comes to protecting your body against modern pollutants and toxins that overtake us.

In most cases NAC is a great supplement. ¼ of a teaspoon or 790 mg. is all a person needs. Taking more than this can deplete the good metals such as copper from your body. Everything in moderation, especially NAC.

Since NAC is an amino acid it helps build energy in your body. This is a great supplement to take along side B-Complex. When taking L-cysteine, N-acetyl-cysteine, or glutathione, it is recommended that three times as much vitamin C should be taken at the same time to prevent these amino acids from being oxidized in the body.  Our recommended B-Complex has vitamin C already added for your convenience.

Bring on the energy!!!

References
Berkson, B., M.D., Ph.D. All About the B Vitamins. Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group, 1998.

Berkson, B. The Alpha-Lipoic Acid Breahthrough. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing 1999

Adapted from University of Maryland medical center: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Cysteinecs.html

Related QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

I just have one quick question for you. How many days do I need to be on the Tune-up?

Since Intestinal Tune-up is non-habit forming you can be on it as long as you like. It is also loaded with nutrients that will help heal your bowels and make them healthier in the long run. Since nutrition is picked up in the bloodstream through the bowels Intestinal Tune-Up is good at delivering nutrition right to the point of interest. A good rule of thumb to follow with the Tune-Up would be continue until you feel like your body is clean.

How the intestines work. Warning to readers the following may be offensive to some…

Our intestines pick up nutrition you can tell a lot by your stools as to how much nutrition your body is getting by watching the following.

If your stools drop to the bottom of the toilet you are not getting the nutrition out of your food. This means you probably have a buildup of waste on the intestinal walls that needs cleaned off so you can absorb the vitamins in your food. Intestinal Tune-Up is needed.

If your stools float you are doing pretty good. You are getting most of the nutrition out of your food and this is where you want to be. To keep this up you should only need a Tune-Up cleanse once or twice a year.