Vitamins and End of Summer Energy Drop Possibly about “B” Complex

Since this area had 104 degree temps and week of higher temperatures than Florida was having, I thought it would be a good idea to post something about  the physical reaction to extreme heat and how extreme perspiration can deplete vitamins from the system -

Heat waves, outdoor sports, during an active summer can result in a post season slump because of a B vitamin deficiency.  Although this extra hot season created lots of reasons to be tired, I had a hunch that my low energy was more than just normal fatigue.  Usually, I schedule eight hour days, and promise myself some relaxation time.  However, that turns out to be something akin to a split shift.  I had one clear symptom that told me something was amiss with B vitamins.  Apparent symptoms help to pinpoint if this is the case.  What are they?

Though low energy is broad based, and could even be a state of mind caused by excessive worry that drains energy.  Yet, summer weather is suspect for contributing to getting behind in B complex.  The B vitamins are delicate and water soluble. Drinking large amounts of liquid on hot summer days is one thing that can wipe out the store of the energy producing “complex.” Heavy perspiration is a major culprit that flushes out this water soluble, important vitamin.  The B complex is indeed complicated.  Replacing the lost nutrition isn’t always simple. 

Something might be missing in commonly available “B” vitamins sold in the stores: First, the studies that ended prematurely cast a suspicion that to isolate the B complex isn’t a good thing.  The waves of people who took an interest in vitamins curtailed motivation to go ahead with research about B vitamins found in nature. Suspicion was that because these phytonutrients always appeared in the same proportions - maybe they shouldn’t be separated and used as individual components.  And that each individual type of B has the symbiotic function of upholding the others.  It’s sort of like a family that sticks together.  Theoretically, focusing with one element such as niacin, or B12 creates a deficiency in the rest of the individual elements of the complex.

Second, the lining of the stomach must have the right culture to accept B vitamins.   With a good diet hydrochloric acid helps keep a balance. And this equilibrium is a very important precursor to vital mental and physical health.  Without beans and legumes and cultured food products in the diet, it’s possible to disrupt the culture of the stomach lining.  The result is that B vitamin absorption doesn’t happen.

Deficiencies in the B vitamins at the most severe level lead to depression, or even worse, mental illness.  According to nutrition writer, Adelle Davis, even some cases wrongly diagnosed as schizophrenia, have been cured with restoration of this nutrient. A slight deficiency could just show up as general malaise or a case of the blues - one symptom that something’s off in the digestive tract.

A minor deficiency is easy to correct with cultured dairy products like yogurt or keifer.  Sauerkraut is another helper.  Brewer’s yeast tablets have the entire balance of the complex.  Yet, by the time these are processed into pill form, it’s necessary to take them by the handful.  So they are pretty inconvenient.  Brewer’s yeast flakes combine with orange juice or a favorite fruit juice, but the flavor leaves much to be desired.  Some people get accustomed to it, though.  After a while, I eventually acquired a taste for the flavor.  

Severe deficiencies are indicated when there’s a strange burning sensation over the top lip.  Recognition of this lack shows up in lipstick bleed lines.

A long term B deficiency yields symptoms such as people who are cold even during hot weather.  Checking the tongue out in the mirror tells even more.  If the sides of the tongue are cracked or have a bumpy outline, this is clear evidence of a problem.  Vertical lines forming above the upper lip are often associated with growing old, but these lines may not be simply wrinkles - they could be caused by lack of B.

A third situation is that vitamins manufacturers aren’t allowed to produce a full regimen of B vitamins balanced as in nature because of one component that’s been limited by government- folic acid.  It’s possible to overdose on folic acid if a person takes it by the handful, or swallows a whole bottle.  Pregnant women are allowed to have the full gamut of B with a prescription from a doctor.  

Most of what I learned about B vitamins is from information Adelle Davis provides in her book, “Let’s Eat Right to Keep Fit.”  The rest of the proof came with practical application. Davis backs up all of her information with scientific studies and the results. I’ve rarely come across other sources of nutrition information that were as thorough.  Without health insurance, learning about nutrition was a godsend.

Thanks to researching this material, I was able to concentrate on my problem of the low energy, and it was fairly easy to regain normal vitality. Now is the time to harvest and preserve the garden, and soon I‘ll start moving firewood closer to the house.  Luckily, I only needed yogurt and acidophilus capsules to get back to a normally busy life.  

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The Rest of the Story 2012 Weather Disasters – Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Gilbert's brother and faithful friend, Ron had to sit out this phase

The revival of an old time way of caring came about after the micro-burst that pummeled the Lake Erie, Marblehead Penninsula and nearby Catawba Island.  Now, the latest phenomena gave everyone a scare when the tail winds of Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc in the neighborhood.

We had barely recovered from the Microburst occurring earlier this summer, when Hurricane Sandy’s tail winds hit the Marblehead peninsula. Combining the two incidents, a bright side to the story came by way of neighbors helping one another recover from the damages.

Gilbert isn't able to climb ladders, so he's the "go fetch it" man

The higher up on the ladder, the hotter it was

A big maple tree some estimated to be around four hundred years old fell on the neighbor’s barn.  The insurance wouldn’t pay for damages though it seemed it should have.  Just on the other side of the property line, the neighbors whose barn it was had to use their own insurance to make repairs.  Naturally, the repairs would cost more than insurance allowed, so the neighbors pitched in to defray the cost of repairs.  

Gilbert and dick work in extreme heat of the drought that followed the  micro-burst

The November storm resulted from Hurricane Sandy which swept across the eastern states and plummeted into the New Jersey Shoreline.  Our end of the storm wasn't quite so devastating, but we got worried about the old willow tree, which was about thirty feet tall, branches hanging perilously close to the our good friends and neighbor's house.  This inspired the job depicted here in the below photo essay.

The new storm story in a pictorial essay below.  Since my husband helped rebuild the barn, Ron and Gilbert came over and worked all day to help get rid of tree branches.  Ron pulled up a resin chair and operated the chain saw cutting the branch into manageable pieces for firewood.  We'll have a toasty winter thanks to their help.

After the micro-burst, things had just about gotten back to normal, then came hurricane tailwinds of "Sandy."

A strange dimness remained until late afternoon the day of the tailwinds from  hurricane Sandy.  Here in the dark morning are objects blown, and downed from the wind.  In the background is a toppled swing.  Thankfully, the boat didn't sustain damage.

Below: Ron hung his cane in the tree and helped Larry tackle the big tree branch that was threatening to fall on their house. Gilbert is in the background trying to escape the snapshot.

Ha ha!  Gotcha Gilbert!  (in the background)

They wondered what I would do with the pics.  I told them I was going to write a story called "Three Bald Men."  We all got a well deserved laugh.


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Tale of Hurricane Sandy Winds and the Nor'easter

After three days of constant wind blowing from the north and hurricane Sandy tail winds bludgeon the northeast, one comes to understand this almost unmentionable word, nor’easter. 

This morning, obsessed with going out into sixty mile per hour winds, I donned a raincoat and rubber boots and went.  This bizarre fascination about weather phenomena is nothing new. Making the turn around the side of the house that sits next to a boat barn blocking some of the wind, I was almost knocked down. The power of it was dizzying. I stiffened my legs against the force, but knew staying out any longer, I’d be down.  Not very sure about whether a tree on our partly wooded lot might timber down on top of me, I was back inside in a flash.

Whenever an old fisherman talks of nor’easter, his voice is filled with reverence.  So far, living in the Great Lakes area hadn’t illustrated the fearfulness of a storm like this.  One of the thoughts to keep in mind about Lake Erie is that it’s only forty feet at its deepest.  Anyone foolish enough to take a boat out in a storm could end up pounded to the bottom of the lake in a heartbeat.

Trees are bent over ready to touch the ground.  They wave and bounce back in a valiant effort to stand up straight.  Overnight the autumn colors disappeared catapulting all into a season of bitter desolation.  Skies outline barren tree branches darkened by rain, struggling to reach upward.  With upcoming snow season, we would have a frigid sky overlaid into black and white.  Yet now, the horizon is an imperious miserable grey.  It serves us as a memento of how small we really are in this universe making our little lives but under the grace of God.

Lake Erie from the Peninsula Side Ominous yet Peaceful

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She Follows the Moon - Lake Erie Backyard Evenings Summer 2012

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