It's a beautiful Thursday once again...another week to be grateful for!
My health is really picking up...and I am just so happy and thankful. I thank God for sending me good people who are able to share with my their talents in medicines...and for the people who prayed for me...I thank you. God bless you ALL.
My post for today is dedicated to wellness...I'd like to share to you that wonderful substance that God sent me!
It will be a long post...so, you are warned. You can go through it quickly though, but it may be worth your time as well. Who knows, this is what you just need or your loved one!
Wellness Writer, Susan has been writing on the topic Managing Depressive Episode. I'd like to believe that most of us knows what a down moment is and that once in our lives we've been through it...it's just a matter to degree.
I told Susan and as I have also mentioned here a couple of times, getting Vitamin B and B complex shots helps me get that energy my body needs to pull myself out of the pit when I am with my lows...and I promise to talk about it, it's wonderful effects on me and what are its benefits.
Before I start, I'd like to remind everyone that I am not a medical practitioner and please feel free to do more reseach on this topic.
Those who have known me quite long here knows what are my challenges...I mean mood wise. Also, most of you know that more than the mood swings, my greatest health issues are my asthma and my allergies...which are interrelated.
My problem though is it took me long to realized (especially when I started working) that sometimes my lows get to influence my physical health and vice versa.
It always starts with unexplainable fatigue...followed my anxiousness...irritability...insomia...lack ot appetite...then boom, my immune system goes weak then I get sick...then very sick...then I go through this cycle of feeling sorry for my ailing body...then everything spirals down!
The past 2 years has been like that! And IT Guy always says it must be my working environment, plus the fact that I am working in an evening shift. I don't really agree since my schedules before were worst! Plus, before I used to travel alot and it has not affected my sleep and all that. So is it age?! *blink*
So I had this sort of a conference with my doctors...well, just my cardio, my OB, and neurologist and my spiritual director, whom I might need to add is a psychiatrist and we discussed on what happened along the way! What has gone wrong? I mean, I have been well without any mood pills and I managed...but lately, I've been sick again and it is really draining me!
So we review on what meds I have stopped taking. All those IVs that are good for my brain and neurons were gradually withdrawn and they were really scheduled to stop. So it's not that.
Then...they all looked at me and said, you stopped taking your cocktail shots!
And we were all laughing...out loud.
Because yes, not only I have stopped taking my cocktail shots, I have also stopped taking them orally. So there goes the answer to our questions.
My cocktail shots is just a Vit. B and B complex which they have specifically made for me...I'm talking about the dosage...
Yes, I used to take a weekly shots and another booster once a month. I have stopped that, and now I am on it again.
Few weeks back when I was too sick to function, the gave my that booster shot...the original Mariposa cocktail...it has contains the following - vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, B1, B3,B5, B6 and B12 (I guess just Vit. B and B Complex!). The procedure takes about 30 minutes...personally I'd say it's not painful, but hey, I have high tolerance to pain...some friends I know who had a more or less similar shots told me it's too damn painful...so you are warned! Especially this mix because the viscosity is quite high because of the components.
After the shot, I slept...like forever...and woke up like I am invincible. I don't think it's just purely placebo effect...because my cough stopped, no more colds...I felt so rested...and no more body pains for me.
Two weeks after that, I had another shots, but just the Vit. B and B Complex, 5mg for each.
Now the first shot cost me $80-100, and the second one, $25...
I did not have any shots since then but I am taking Vit. B and B Complex tablet orally, and I take them twice a day, with my Vit. E. I don't take Vit. C orally because of my gastritis, so I just let the fruits take care of it.
I informed my doctors that I will be blogging on this topic and asked him if he needed me to add anything which might be important...all he said is, though there is no such thing as an overdose of B Complex, it is still best to let your nutritionist or doctor deside on the dosage and always let a medical professional administer the procedure.
I understand in the US you can buy vials which dosage are kind of generic, and you can just let your doctor do it for you. :)
You may ask why I needed to take the shots when I can just take the pills orally, well, it is for fast absorption since I needed it that moment. Also, to have it through IV would mean most of the substance gets to be absorbed by the body.
Vit. B and B complex enters and exits the body fast, so it is advisable to have it on a daily basis, that is why, after the shots, I have to maintain them by taking oral tablets.
I also did some research and found out that these substance is also good for depression aside from providing energy to the body. It also helps in the conversion of carbs to glucose which the body uses for energy even while sleeping...so it enhances metabolism...*hint* to those who are trying to go on a diet and still feel a bit bloated!
By the way, my oral capsule has the following --
Thiamin (B1)
Riboflavin (B2)
Niacin Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl)
Folic acid
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin)
Biotin
Pantothenic acid (B5)
Betaine free base
Choline Inositol
para-aminobenzoic acid
and the Vit. E (natural and in veggie caps)
Below is what I gathered in my research --
The Vitamin B Family The members of this family are key to keeping your body energized.
The B-complex vitamins are essential to mental and emotional well-being. They cannot be stored in our bodies, so we depend entirely on our daily diet to supply them. B vitamins are destroyed by alcohol, refined sugars, nicotine, and caffeine so it is no surprise that many people may be deficient in these.
B 1 (a.k.a. thiamin) helps keep your appetite stable. The brain uses this vitamin to help convert glucose, or blood sugar, into fuel, and without it the brain rapidly runs out of energy. This can lead to fatigue, depression, irritability, anxiety, and even thoughts of suicide. Deficiencies can also cause memory problems, loss of appetite, insomnia, and gastrointestinal disorders. The consumption of refined carbohydrates, such as simple sugars, drains the body's B1 supply.
B 2 (a.k.a. riboflavin) also helps with energy metabolism. Riboflavin aids your eyes and works for healthier skin.
B 3 (a.k.a. niacin) is actually made by your body. Niacin helps your metabolism, improves the condition of your skin, and supports both the digestive and nervous systems.
Pellagra-which produces psychosis and dementia, among other symptoms-was eventually found to be caused by niacin deficiency. Many commercial food products now contain niacin, and pellagra has virtually disappeared. However, subclinical deficiencies of vitamin B3 can produce agitation and anxiety, as well as mental and physical slowness.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) Symptoms of deficiency are fatigue, chronic stress, and depression. Vitamin B5 is needed for hormone formation and the uptake of amino acids and the brain chemical acetylcholine, which combine to prevent certain types of depression.
B 6 allows you to think more clearly, supports the immune system and hormone activity. (The intake of alcohol prohibits your B6 activity.)
This vitamin aids in the processing of amino acids, which are the building blocks of all proteins and some hormones. It is needed in the manufacture of serotonin, melatonin and dopamine. Vitamin B6 deficiencies, although very rare, cause impaired immunity, skin lesions, and mental confusion. A marginal deficiency sometimes occurs in alcoholics, patients with kidney failure, and women using oral contraceptives. Many nutritionally oriented doctors believe that most diets do not provide optimal amounts of this vitamin.
B 12 protects your nervous system and supports both bone growth and metabolism. Because vitamin B12 is important to red blood cell formation, deficiency leads to an oxygen-transport problem known as pernicious anemia. This disorder can cause mood swings, paranoia, irritability, confusion, dementia, hallucinations, or mania, eventually followed by appetite loss, dizziness, weakness, shortage of breath, heart palpitations, diarrhea, and tingling sensations in the extremities. Deficiencies take a long time to develop, since the body stores a three- to five-year supply in the liver. When shortages do occur, they are often due to a lack of intrinsic factor, an enzyme that allows vitamin B12 to be absorbed in the intestinal tract. Since intrinsic factor diminishes with age, older people are more prone to B12 deficiencies.
Folate (a.k.a. folic acid) is essential for new cell development. And yet, your body is a snob when it comes to accepting this B vitamin. While you can get folic acid from eating leafy greens, legumes and liver, your body doesn't like to absorb it from these sources. Only half of the folate you get from foods will be accepted. Instead, your body prefers the so-called "free" folate found in supplements.
Minerals
Deficiencies in a number of minerals can also cause depression.
Magnesium
Deficiency can result in depressive symptoms, along with confusion, agitation, anxiety, and hallucinations, as well as a variety of physical problems. Most diets do not include enough magnesium, and stress also contributes to magnesium depletion
Calcium
Depletion affects the central nervous system. Low levels of calcium cause nervousness, apprehension, irritability, and numbness. Zinc: Inadequacies result in apathy, lack of appetite, and lethargy. When zinc is low, copper in the body can increase to toxic levels, resulting in paranoia and fearfulness.
Iron
Depression is often a symptom of chronic iron deficiency. Other symptoms include general weakness, listlessness, exhaustion, lack of appetite, and headaches.
Manganese: This metal is needed for proper use of the B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. Since it also plays a role in amino-acid formation, a deficiency may contribute to depression stemming from low levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. Manganese also helps stabilize blood sugar and prevent hypoglycemic mood swings. Potassium: Depletion is frequently associated with depression, tearfulness, weakness, and fatigue.
Sources:
Nancy Schimelpfening
Big.Net Health
Are you not in an awe how those small seemingly insignificant substance affects our entire being?! Some call it science...I call it miracle!
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