Quick-fix food/drinks for fatigue/lethargy due to Thalassemia minor

Hi!
I'm new here, and I think my fatigue/lethargy is caused by my Thalassemia minor. Just want to ask whether anyone knows of quick-fix food/drinks to overcome this fatigue/lethargy? For example, in the middle of work, or while driving, when the fatigue/lethargy suddenly sets in. It makes me to lose my focus in work, and for driving, of course it's dangerous. I've tried coffee and Redbull, but it doesn't seem to work for me. I usually take a quick nap at work lunch or rest at R&R if driving. But I wish, there's a quick-fix meals that can make me be alert again, as this saves time. If anyone knows, please do share. Tq
Regards,
 

Hi Emy,

I think that eating frequently is very helpful for thal minors, ensuring that you have adequate hydration is also very important.  We don't realize it, but us thal minors become dehydrated quite easily which can contribute to the feelings that you describe.

I would suggest balanced eating with a lot of vegetables, some fruit, healthy carbs, and protein.  Although eating like this is important for all people, it is even more important for thals.  A liquid B complex supplement, wheat grass, and a multivitamin will also be helpful. 

Best,

Sharmin

Thanks Sharmin & Andy for the replies

Hi Emy,

I think that eating frequently is very helpful for thal minors, ensuring that you have adequate hydration is also very important.  We don't realize it, but us thal minors become dehydrated quite easily which can contribute to the feelings that you describe.

I would suggest balanced eating with a lot of vegetables, some fruit, healthy carbs, and protein.  Although eating like this is important for all people, it is even more important for thals.  A liquid B complex supplement, wheat grass, and a multivitamin will also be helpful. 

Best,

Sharmin

Sharmin, noted on eating frequently. But it's contradicting isn't it? On one hand, we want to live healthily through a good diet, but on the other hand, we need to eat frequently to keep away the thal symptoms. I guess it's something that we thal minors need to live with Regarding hydration, the ironic thing for me is that I have a problem with peeing frequently if I drink normally. I still don't know what is the reason for this. So, I try to keep my fluid intake low. Could this be the reason my symptoms are more severe? Because I'm dehydrated? So, this is another contradicting thing for me; need to keep myself hydrated, but will cause me to pee too much I I've never come across liquid B complex supplement and wheat grass, but think I'll start on a multivitamin from now on

Sharmin has given an excellent response here. Resveratrol has properties that can benefit all classes of thals. The glowing words about its antioxidant properties should not be overlooked. Many thals think that iron is their only real enemy, but iron is only half the battle. Preventing ineffective erythropoiesis and combating oxidation has an importance that is often underestimated by patients, but this is never underestimated by true thal specialists. The products of ineffective erythropoiesis and oxidation destroy red blood cells, damage the organs and eventually cause pulmonary hypertension and death by cardiac failure. This side of treatment should not be overlooked.

Andy, I guess I'm still new at this. I don't understand many of the things you mentioned above. I'll educate myself further and hope in the process could improve my quality of life as a thal minor

However, I'm still looking for that quick-fix food/drinks, which can give me instantaneous boost of energy in the middle of the day/ driving. If anyone knows, appreciate you can share

Dear Emy,

Eating frequently is good for all people - because it balances sugar levels - maintains healthy weight as well.  The meals need to be small and should not be empty calories.  Resveretrol, wheat grass and vitamin B will give you a lot more energy - one of the ways they do so is by protecting your red blood cells, making them healthier and facilitating oxygenation of all of your tissues and organs. 

You want quick and maintained energy levels - which you can gain through eating protein and healthy carbs.  If you don't have allergies nuts such as almonds and walnuts are a good sense of energy.  Fruit such as apples are also good.  Bananas are a good source of sustained energy.  Greens+ - a green vege/fruit powder is excellent for providing energy and antioxidant protection as well. 

The goal however is good health - which will make you healthier and more energetic all of the time. 

Water is absolutely essential for energy and health.  Any bladder or kidney issues will be far worse if you reduce your fluid intake.   As a side note, it may be a good idea to see your doctor about the bladder issues to ensure that there isn't an underlying issue for increased urination - checking blood sugar is also a good idea for this symptom.

Please feel free to ask any other questions that we can help you with,

Sharmin

Emy,

I'm sorry but my post went into the wrong thread. I was having some weird browser problem and the browser kept scrolling and I ended up replying to the wrong post once I got it to sit still.

I don't think there is any quick fix for anemia of any sort. Following a healthy diet and getting mild to moderate exercise regularly does help. You might want to try wheatgrass, though. It does boost energy levels. For your purposes, fresh wheatgrass juice of wheatgrass extract would be most useful.

Thanks Sharmin and Andy again for your replies

Dear Emy,

Eating frequently is good for all people - because it balances sugar levels - maintains healthy weight as well.  The meals need to be small and should not be empty calories.  Resveretrol, wheat grass and vitamin B will give you a lot more energy - one of the ways they do so is by protecting your red blood cells, making them healthier and facilitating oxygenation of all of your tissues and organs. 

You want quick and maintained energy levels - which you can gain through eating protein and healthy carbs.  If you don't have allergies nuts such as almonds and walnuts are a good sense of energy.  Fruit such as apples are also good.  Bananas are a good source of sustained energy.  Greens+ - a green vege/fruit powder is excellent for providing energy and antioxidant protection as well. 

The goal however is good health - which will make you healthier and more energetic all of the time. 

Water is absolutely essential for energy and health.  Any bladder or kidney issues will be far worse if you reduce your fluid intake.   As a side note, it may be a good idea to see your doctor about the bladder issues to ensure that there isn't an underlying issue for increased urination - checking blood sugar is also a good idea for this symptom.

Please feel free to ask any other questions that we can help you with,

Sharmin

Sharmin, thanks for the advice. I'll keep in mind to do frequent eating (healthy type). I guess I've been taught that frequent snacks can make you fat, and that's why I try to avoid it, but I think in our case, we can't avoid it if we want to maintain our energy. Regarding Resveretrol and wheatgrass, since I'm from Malaysia, they are quite foreign to me. I looked up the internet and it seems that we can buy wheatgrass in satchets. I'll try to look for it the next time I'm in the supermarket and give it a try and see whether it can give me quick energy boost Regarding the other food (nuts, apples, bananas), I think I've tried them all, and none seem to work for quick energy boost Regarding, water, funny that you mention sugar in blood. My father has diabetes. I'm not diabetic, but my blood sugar level increases abnormally when I eat too much as compared to others (which is another reason why I try to eat less). I'm not sure how this relates though. It's quite difficult because I have many conditions I guess

Emy,

I'm sorry but my post went into the wrong thread. I was having some weird browser problem and the browser kept scrolling and I ended up replying to the wrong post once I got it to sit still.

I don't think there is any quick fix for anemia of any sort. Following a healthy diet and getting mild to moderate exercise regularly does help. You might want to try wheatgrass, though. It does boost energy levels. For your purposes, fresh wheatgrass juice of wheatgrass extract would be most useful.

Andy, no prob on the mix up, but the terms did sound interesting, I just need to do more readings to educate myself further. Thanks for the advice on wheatgrass. As I mentioned above, I'll give it a try