Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
From a Naturopath Point of View Part 5 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND You may have heard the saying that sleep and a good healthy diet are both the base of the pyramid of health. As a Naturopath I agree with this concept 100%! But …
Cancer Related Fatigue
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
I wanted to talk about cancer related fatigue because it’s so common in those who have cancer. It can also be difficult to work with because there can be a number of reasons why a person feels fatigue. So let’s get into this interesting topic, shall we?
Well let’s start with the beginning. What exactly do we mean when we say cancer related fatigue? It is a physical, emotional and mental fatigue in someone with cancer that does not improve with sleep or rest. This can occur during treatment and persist after treatment is concluded. When you have cancer related fatigue you may notice that your fatigue isn’t alleviated by rest. Normal activities may make you feel more tired than usual. You may feel too tired to do things you want to do. You may also feel like it’s hard to focus and you have no energy. You may also notice you feel weak, sad, cranky and frustrated. It may be hard to lift your arms and legs. You may even feel that you need more sleep than usual. (1)
Why does cancer lead to increased fatigue? Well as I said there is a number of reasons that increased fatigue can occur. Certain types of cancer can cause the release of proteins such as cytokines which can cause fatigue. Certain cancer treatments also cause fatigue. Another cause for fatigue is anemia. Hormonal changes that can occur during treatment can also trigger fatigue. Chronic pain can also lead to feelings of fatigue. Certain life style factors that can trigger an increase in fatigue include poor nutrition, lack of exercise and a decrease in the amount of sleep you are getting. Anxiety and depression can also increase fatigue. (2) It’s important to rule out certain conditions that can also mimic cancer related fatigue. For example muscle weakness can mimic fatigue. Depression can also mimic fatigue as well. (1)
What are some blood tests you can talk to your doctor about that can help to determine anything that maybe making your fatigue worse? First the doctor should check your iron levels and red blood cell counts to rule out anemia. They can also check for vitamin deficiencies such as B12, folate, or even vitamin D. Please check out my blog on Methyl-B for more information on the B vitamins. The doctor can also check for certain hormones that can trigger fatigue such as your thyroid hormones. You can also ask your doctor to check for inflammation, infections and even certain chronic diseases such as celiac disease and diabetes. (3) You can also fill out the attached questionnaire and bring it to your doctor’s visit! (2)
Questionnaire:
What can you do to help with your fatigue? The following suggestions are fine for both during and after treatment.
The following can be helpful for those who have cancer related fatigue that persists after treatment. Please note that these recommendations are for after treatment, not during.
Our next product highlight will be the confusing world of Iron!
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Protein Powders Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Invite health has a number of different type of protein powders. These include a whey based protein, a plant based protein and even a weight management powder that can help improve our overall nutrition. That being said why is …
Cancer and Weight Loss Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Weight loss is a common side effect experienced by those with cancer. This weight loss can occur for a number of reasons. To start with, having cancer can lead to weight loss. This is because in some …
Methyl-B
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Most people have heard that it can improve your health if you take a B complex. You may even have heard the term “methylation”. But do you know what that term means? Why does it even matter? This blog will answer those questions and more! Basically when you methylate a vitamin you are either adding or taking off a methyl group. When this process is done to the B vitamins it “activates” them. When you take a methylated B complex it is already activated, however when you take an unmethylated B complex the body must perform the methylation process itself. (1) To sum things up Methyl- B complex is an activated or turned on complex whereas an unmethylated B complex is a form that has to be “turned on” by the body.
Now I bet your thinking but why does this even matter? One reason why it matters is that it affects the speed at which the B complex goes to work. A methylated B complex will go to work immediately. This is because it’s already turned on. When you take unmethylated B complex you have to turn them on if you will. This takes time hence increasing the amount of time it takes to see affects. There is also a part of the population who have a gene variation called MTHFR. (1) This variation can make it difficult to activate or methylate our vitamins. For example having MTHFR can make methylation of folic acid and B12 difficult if not impossible. (2, 3) Thus for anyone with the MTHFR it is important to take the methyl form of B vitamins. However, even those without the mutation benefit from a methyl B since as I have said it works right away because it is already in the active form.
Now if you compare the vitamins in our Methyl- B you will notice some say methyl and some don’t. That is because some need to be methylated while the others don’t need to be but are included because they are important in the methylation process. (4) This is also why you may notice that there are some B vitamins in the B 100 complex that aren’t in the Methyl- B. The B 100 complex has all the B vitamins whereas the Methyl- B formula concentrates on those that must be activated or are important in the methylation process. Another difference you may notice is the amount of each B vitamin. Because the Methyl- B vitamins are easier for the body to use you often get the benefits at a lower dose. (1) So to answer your question no you don’t need to take multiple pills to get any benefit! If you’re confused which B complex is right for you I suggest speaking to an Invite nutritionist?
What exactly are B vitamins helpful for? Well B vitamins are important for our red blood cells, energy, and nerve and muscle health (including our heart). B vitamins are also important for our vision and eye health. Our brain also requires B vitamins to work optimally. B vitamins also impact both our appetite and digestion. Lastly B vitamins play a role in our hormones and even cholesterol health. For those that are pregnant or nursing B vitamins are important for the baby’s brain development as well as reduce the risk of certain birth defects. B vitamins can also help maintain energy, reduce nausea and even decrease the risk of preeclampsia in those who are pregnant. (5)
As you can see the B vitamins can help with many aspects of our health. Feel free to talk to an Invite nutritionist for more information. Our next topic will be dealing with weight loss during cancer treatments.
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