Nutritional measures are most vital in the treatment of fatigue. Studies reveal that people who eat small midmeals suffer less from fatigue and nervousness, think more clearly and are more efficient than those who eat only three meals daily. These midmeals should consist of fresh or dried fruits, fresh fruit or vegetable juices, raw vegetables or a small sandwich of whole grain bread.
The midmeal should be small and less food should be consumed at regular meals. They should be taken at specified times such as 11 a.m. , 4 p.m. and before retiring.
The patient should eat healthy foods which supply energy to the body. Charles De Coti Marsh of London in his book ‘ Prescription for Energy ‘ prescribes foods to relieve fatigue and gain energy. He says, ” Regenerating must begin with foods. They must be taken in their natural state. These cereals are corn seeds.
They must be freshly milled. In uncooked cereals we do have one perfect food for perfect health which contains the essential vitamins and energy creators.” In addition to cereal seeds, Marsh recommends fresh raw nuts taken directly from the shell and root vegetables. He says, ” Any seed or root vegetable that will grow again will renew human vitality. ”
The patient should take an optimum diet made up of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. Roughly, each food group should supply the bulk of one of the three meals. Sprouting is an excellent way to eat seeds, beans and grains in raw form. Sprouting increases the nutritional value of foods and many new vitamins are created or multiplied in seeds during sprouting.
The patient should supplement the three health-building food groups with special protective foods such as milk, high quality cold-pressed unrefined vegetable oils and honey.
The patient should also take natural vitamin and mineral supplements as an effective assurance against nutritional deficiencies as such deficiencies have been found to be a factor in fatigue. Lack of pantothenic acid, a B vitamin, in particular leads to extreme fatigue as deficiency of this vitamin is associated with exhaustion of the adrenal glands.
It should, however, be remembered that while taking pantothenic acid separately, the entire B-complex should be added to avoid imbalance of other B vitamins. In fact the entire B-complex protects nerves and increases energy by helping to nourish and regulate glands. The vegetarian foods rich in vitamin B are wheat and other whole grain cereals, green leafy vegetables, un-polished rice, milk, nuts, banana, yeast, pulses and peas.
Other vitamins play specific roles in fatigue in connection with various ailments. The fatigue will disappear by correcting deficiencies. Minerals are also important. Potassium is especially needed for protection against fatigue. Raw green vegetables are rich in this mineral. Calcium is essential for relaxation and is beneficial in cases of insomnia and tension both of which can lead to fatigue. Sodium and zinc are also beneficial in the treatment of fatigue.
Raw vegetable juices, especially carrot juice, taken separately or in combination with juices of beets and cucumbers, is highly valuable in overcoming fatigue. The proportions considered helpful in the combination juice of sixteen ounces are carrot ten ounces, and beet and cucumber three ounces each.
The patient should avoid depending on crutches for energy lift such as taking aspirin, tranquilizers and other drugs, drinking coffee or alcohol, smoking , eating some sugar or sweets. They give only a temporary boost and this is soon followed by a downward plunge of energy, leaving a person worse than before. Such crutches are very harmful in the long run and may result in diseases such as hypoglycemia or low blood sugar and alcoholism.