A New Discovery

BetterYou Vitamin B12 Boost

I was reading a magazine recently and this product caught my eye! It's a Vitamin B12 supplement in the form of  a spray, which provides a high dosage of Vitamin B12, Chromium and Green Tea Extract when sprayed under the tongue.

Vitamin B12 plays a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, as well as energy. Even health people need Vitamin B12 t function properly, but if you have a neurological illness such as M.E, with one of the significant symptoms being overwhelming fatigue, it is even more important.

The information on the website reads:-

B12 has been proven to help reduce tiredness and fatigue as well as aiding concentration and memory. Boost B12 Oral Spray delivers 1200ug of this vital vitamin along with 40ug of chromium and 16mg of green tea extract with every dose (4 sprays).

The combination is delivered orally under the tongue, quickly entering the bloodstream for the ultimate in bio-availability and convenience. Delivering 1,200mcg of vitamin B12 per dose the bottle lasts an impressive 40 days. Ideal for those with an active lifestyle, if you're feeling increasingly tired or for those who travel. 

Having recently relapsed, I have been looking further for supplements which might make my day just that little bit more bearable. So I purchased one of these, I have now been using it for a few days and I do feel it has had an effect. Four sprays under the tongue in the morning, and this gives you 48,000% Recommended Daily Allowance of B12, 100% Chromium and 0.5mg of Green Tea. I have already spoken  about Green tea in another post, and how much it has helped me since I have been drinking it on a regular basis. 

Chromium plays a part in the release of energy, supporting carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, and helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

 With hypoglycaemia being suspected in many M.E patients, this appears to be a sensible supplement to take.

I feel this spray would be a great supplement for not only M.E-ers, but I healthy people too who perhaps are feeling a bit burnt out due to lifestyle factors. It has a sweet apricot taste, which is nice as I was expecting it to be bitter, but it tastes fine. I am very happy with it so far, although it is not a miracle cure for fatigue, and by no means is the fatigue less debilitating, but I feel it takes the edge of it slightly. When you have persistent fatigue day-in, day-out, the smallest relief is like a godsend! I would definitely recommend this spray, it can be found online as well as in Holland & Barrett.

BetterYou, who make the spray, have a range of supplements including these sprays with other vitamins - and I will definitely be trying some more!

Green Tea & ME/CFS

Since becoming unwell i have been on the constant look out for anything which may benefit me health wise, including supplements and vitamins. 

My sister is a health freak, and always going on about how beneficial green tea is, whether you are a healthy person or not. I had tried it before but unfortunately it made me very nauseous, but perhaps that was drinking it on an empty stomach! 

It isn't the nicest tasting tea, but since i have become unwell i have gone from a coffee freak.. to a green tea freak! If you suffer from the condition yourself you may well know that although caffeine helps perk you up, the 'comedown' off it leaves a lot to be desired! I find i feel great when i have a cup of coffee, but now when it wears off, it makes my crashes a lot more difficult to handle.

                                     
Green tea contains natural antioxidants and there is compelling evidence that it may help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancers and Alzheimers. It is loaded with polyphenols and flavanoids, which studies suggest seek out cell damaging free radicals and destroy them.

So where does this help with ME patients? Green tea helps indigestion (IBS is very common in patients suffering from the condition), boosts the immune system, helps brain function and prevents fatigue - all of which are relevant to the diagnosis.

Since drinking it, it has had a noticeable effect on my levels of energy throughout the day. It also seems to suppress my hunger which is great when i am trying to lose weight. As with most ME patients, exercise is a no-go, so anything that helps here is a must in my book! I drink mine with a little milk, and i find this stops the nausea, this may just be something that i experience, as i used to get this before becoming ill. 

I have now discovered a new product called Tetley Blend of Both, and it is PERFECT! It is a blend of green, and standard black tea - it tastes and looks just like normal tea, and you add milk to it as normal, but it has all of the benefits of green tea! I am now addicted to the stuff, and can honestly not tell the difference. I would definitely recommend trying green tea in some form, and i hope it benefits you as it does me!