Fatigue fighters.(Brief Article)

Get energized with a natural boost from vitamins and minerals

Can't get through the morning without a cup of coffee? Find yourself nodding off at your desk by mid-afternoon, then failing asleep during your favorite TV show in the evening? Join the club. That drained feeling is all too common these days, and with twin toddlers I know firsthand how exhausting it can be to juggle kids, career and family.

What's the solution? First make an appointment with yourself to exercise -- and don't break it!

Schedule at least two good workouts each week, and squ-eeze as many quick walks in on other days as possible. Next, make it a point to put more whole grains in your meals, whether it's bread, brown rice or oatmeal. They're nutritious, filling and provide a long lasting source of carbohydrates for your body to turn into energy. A little protein with each meal is a good idea, too, but don't go overboard. Digesting a big, juicy steak leaves many people feeling sluggish for hours afterward.

MINERALS AND MUSHROOMS

When it comes to supplements, it's important to cover the bases with a high-quality multi-vitamin and mineral combination. Minerals, especially magnesium, are essential for maintaining energy levels. Deficiencies of this nutrient, which are quite common, can result in fatigue, depression, irritability and other problems. Proof of magnesium's ability to fight weariness is the fact that it's often used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a condition that usually involves low levels of magnesium.

A daily dose of 200 to 400 mg. of magnesium glycinate, a form easily absorbed in the intestines, can help combat fatigue. But remember that taking extra magnesium means increasing calcium intake, too. For correct balance of these supplements, you need to take twice as much calcium as magnesium. So the 300 mg. of magnesium should be accompanied by 600 mg. of calcium. Although magnesium is considered safe, those with heart or kidney problems should discuss these supplements with a physician.