| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
AmyAJJ
98 Posts |
 Posted - 05/10/2008 : 10:48:53
|
Hi All -
I'm curious is you all have some links to studies, reports, etc. about nutritional things I might be able to do help my nervous system be more resilient and strong.
Of course I'm working through my TMS stuff in relation to anxiety and stress, but I'd also like to help my nervous system or immune system be as strong as it can be also. Seems like a natural way to take care of myself better.
For one thing, I'm taking Vitamin B-12 sublinguals....
Any other resources you can recommend? |
|
|
positivevibes
204 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 13:21:30
|
My endocrinologist said that it's very important to ensure that your body has optimal levels of Vitamin D. Many people don't get enough Vitamin D these days because of staying out of the sun, or using sunscreen all the time.
She ordered a blood test for me that included Vitamin D levels. Sure enough, my level was below the normal range.
I take 2,000 IU of Vitamin D every day. I started out with 1,000 daily and after a few weeks, I increased it. The next time I got my levels tested (about a year later) they were smack in the middle of the normal range.
My endocrinologist said that a proper Vitamin D level helps many things function better in the body, including the thyroid (and since I have thyroid disease, that is very important to me).
You can do research on the web to find out more facts. Here is an excerpt from Slate magazine, for example:
Vitamin D deficiency can easily go undetected in adults as well. In one study, published in 2003 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers in Minneapolis tested vitamin D levels in patients suffering from chronic, non-specific, musculoskeletal pain: 93 percent of them turned out to be vitamin D deficient—a condition very likely (though not conclusively) related to their symptoms. And of the East Africans, African Americans, and Hispanics in the study, 100 percent were vitamin D deficient. As a result, the authors argue, all patients with such pain should have their vitamin D levels tested because osteomalacia may turn out to be the underlying cause.
|
 |
|
|
AmyAJJ
98 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 13:27:28
|
Thank you, Vibes...I was just looking online and found something about what you're talking about (D deficiency) and so I went out in the sun just now, even though it's a bit overcast, and listened to my iPod so I could get some D!
I'll consider supplements too...thank you very much! I think this could be an important thread for many of us. |
|
|
|
positivevibes
204 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 16:30:49
|
I strongly advise that anyone who is considering Vitamin D supplementation get a blood test first, before self-medicating. I think it's important to know whether you are actually deficient in Vitamin D before you begin popping supplements!
I also want to add that while you're getting a blood test for Vitamin D, consider adding a test for your TSH (thyroid) levels as well. If you are hyper- or hypo- thyroid, you could experience more pain or more anxiety than a normal person. People who are hypothyroid often have muscles that respond slower and heal slower than a person with normal TSH levels. People who are hyperthyroid may be more anxious and feel nervous all the time. And IMO they should avoid caffine, which makes those symptoms worse!
My TSH runs more toward the hyper side (my endocrinologist has reasons for keeping me in that zone), so I can't drink very much caffeine. I consider it a drug. Also if I take more than 1 pseudophedrine (e.g., if I'm congested with a cold), I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin.
Sometimes anxiety and stress have organic origins, which should definitely be explored. |
|
|
|
armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 19:29:28
|
The same is true for B-12 -- you should be tested before taking B-12, though because it's water-soluble excess is mostly removed by the body.
However, most people who eat animal products get adequate B-12; deficiency is rare but can be serious. If you are getting enough B-12 in you diet but there's a complicating factor (like malabsorption) then just taking it won't help anyway. This is why it's important to be tested.
I take B-12 now (and drink fortified soymilk) because I'm mostly vegan these days, and my serum B-12 was in the low range when I had it tested, although not in the deficiency range according to the NIH values.
--
It's not 100% belief that's required, but 100% commitment. |
|
|
|
AmyAJJ
98 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 21:22:08
|
| Thanks for those tips - very helpful. |
|
|
|
elise8
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2008 : 14:51:09
|
Positive vibes,
I had an achy body and bones and osteopenia and my family doctor checked my vitamin D levels which were way below normal. I now take 1000 mg of vitamin D3(the best form) and calcium 500 mg every day and after six months my levels went back to almost normal. I also have no more "achy bones feeling". She said it is very important to have the levels checked first before supplementing.
I also noticed just a better overall feeling after taking the vitamin D but especially the achiness. I was getting sunshine about 4 times per week - I live in AZ and I was still deficient!! Maybe because I have olive skin, she said sometimes it takes longer to absorb the vitamin D on your skin. But then you worry about skin cancer if you spend too much time in the sun, which I did develop by the way. I got burned when I was younger to the point of blistering... (those were the days of baby oil and cocoa butter for suntan lotion) However, my doctor said that low vitamin D levels can lead to basal skin cancer. Go figure..
Anyway thank you for posting your experience with vitamin D, I think one of the most important vitamins out there. For woman going through menopause it is critcal to get your levels checked...
Lots of sunflower seeds and raw pumpkin seeds are also great for anxiety and depression. They have some of the "good fats" that our body needs to maintain good nervous system function. Also nutritional yeast can be helpful and very absorbable for the B vitamins... It really helped me when I was in a high anxiety state in the past.. I continue to take lots of pumpkin and sunflower seeds today as it seems to help if you are going through the "hormonal change" of menopause....
Elise
Elise8 |
|
|
|
positivevibes
204 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2008 : 00:38:05
|
Elsie, that's a great story! I didn't know about the seeds; I'll have to look into that!
I think these are some of the reasons why Dr. Sarno and others who follow his philosophy recommend that a person have an MD exam before diagnosing them with TMS. You should find out if the aches and pains you're experiencing are from some sort of vitamin/chemical/hormonal/autoimmune imbalance or deficiency. And sometimes if that is the case, it takes time to correct, sometimes 6 months to a year, so you have to be patient.
In any case, reading Dr. Sarno's book can only help, IMO. A dose of self-awareness never hurts!
If I'm feeling achy or need my body to "recover" from some physical stress (like the fall I took this week in the parking lot, in which I got really bruised up), I take an enzyme supplement that my Osteopath recommended. It's called RPR (which is supposed to be an acronym for the word "repair."). It's a natural enzyme supplement that comes from fruit/vegetable sources (bromelain, papain, etc). It's supposed to attack the "hot spots" in your body and help your body to heal better.
Here's a link if you're interested. The stuff actually does have some pain-killing properties. My Osteopath recommended that if I get an injury, I take 2 capsules 3 times/day. He wants me to take it every day, but I don't like popping any sort of pills I don't have to. So I only take it when I feel I need it. Here's a link to it:
www . theramedix . net/prod_rpr.php
You shouldn't take this stuff if you're allergic to bromelain-type fruits (pineapple) or papain (papaya).
|
Edited by - positivevibes on 05/12/2008 00:39:17 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Nutritional Resources for Anxiety and Stress
