Vitamin B12 for depression?

[Star Gazer]

I tend to get a little sad/depressed in the winter months, probably because it's a little gloomy (or perhaps because of family/holiday drama, who knows!). A friend of mine who gets depressed occasionally (situational) mentioned that in lieu of taking antidepressants she was told to take vitamin B12 as a supplement to help boost happy thoughts or whatever BS like that.

 

Anyone ever take B12? Results?

 

Any other NATURAL therapies to boost your mood? I know tanning definitely puts me in a better mood. Stuff like that?

[oppath]

Fish oils, but only the ones with significant EPA (as opposed to DPA I think). It is supposed to help your mood and your heart.

[Star Gazer]

Fish oils, but only the ones with significant EPA (as opposed to DPA I think). It is supposed to help your mood and your heart.

 

What does that mean?

[oppath]

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DPA (docosapentaenoic acid). You can rarely get them separate though in the medical literature, DPA has had no conclusive affect. EPA has had a very positive effect, so much that in Europe it is prescribed by doctors. DPA is inconclusive. So if you get fish oils -- make sure there is more EPA than DPA. It might be more expensive but a lot of fish oil supplements are mostly, if not all, DPA (at least the ones I saw at Trader Joe's). People think "ohhh, fish oil, it is good for my heart and depression." That is not necessarily true. You want to have the right stuff.

 

Just do a google search. If you are like me, I do a google scholar search when researching supplements because if it is not in the medical literature, I won't believe it.

[heartoutside]

There is also something called 5-htp which is a natural mood enhancer, you can get it at vitamin shop. It helps your body produce higher levels of serotonin which is a chemcial your body produces that aids in sleep and mood. Some are sold as 5 htp with b6 added. Now this only helps your depression if that cause of your depression is in fact low levels of serotonin.

[oppath]

This caution more appropriately should go under tony's pin at the beginning of this section: anything you ingest into your body without a doctor or certified nutritionists supervision...research it.

 

The best way I recommend is google scholar. You don't have to be able to digest an entire peer reviewed medical paper, just a few abstracts. You want there to be a medical consensus that what you take works in most cases.

 

If something appears good, even on a general alternative medicine sight, research it. Researchers have a vested interested in pharmaceuticals being proven effective, but they also have a vested interest in alternative medicines being proven effective.

[Star Gazer]

There is also something called 5-htp which is a natural mood enhancer, you can get it at vitamin shop. It helps your body produce higher levels of serotonin which is a chemcial your body produces that aids in sleep and mood. Some are sold as 5 htp with b6 added. Now this only helps your depression if that cause of your depression is in fact low levels of serotonin.

 

Sleep! Oooh! I have that problem too!! I can't sleep sometimes, often when I'm sad...weird.

 

The best way I recommend is google scholar.

 

What is that? Sorry.

[oppath]

It's one of google's search features. Go to more. You can search images, blogs, and scholarly journals. scholar.google.com . Basically it searches peer reviewed research articles.

[whichwayisup]

GET THE SHOTS! Trust me they work! I get bad SAD and I've had afew yuk days, but nothing like before. I'm loaded up on B13, I have a SAD light and I'm exercising more too, keeping busier.

Talk to your Dr about getting the shots once a month, it's much better than the pills. Explain to him how you're feeling (he may want to do a blood test to see where your levels are and to see if you're anemic.

 

I have more energy and I don't get that mid-afternoon, late afternoon crash feeling. Almost mimicks low blood sugar and makes you feel weak, sick and just very drained.

[quankanne]

B12 is great, that's what my doc first put me on to help flagging energy levels and depression caused by stress and grief. Ended up going on an antidepressant though, because the stress was really affecting my body, but I highly recommend it to people.

 

I do believe pharmacies have got a book of herbs and what they help remedy, so check it out and see what other suggested naturalistic supplements they recomment, or check with someone who works at a whole foods store, they'd have a good knowledge in that topic.

 

other suggestion is to watch your sugar/carb intake – even though it seems to give an initial rush, the crash/come-down is a booger to deal with and you're having to consume more and more to get the same buzz.

[RecordProducer]

Any other NATURAL therapies to boost your mood? I know tanning definitely puts me in a better mood. Stuff like that?

For me only real happiness works: new love, a goal achieved, fun with good people, sex, laughter... Everything else is BS.

 

I often have those moods when I am not quite happy with my life. I cure them with day-dreaming and relaxing. I divert my mind onto something that's not related to my worries, like LS or TV. A good book helps a lot, too. Sometimes I tell myself that it will go away and I'll feel better the next morning. I always do.

[bigheartkindsoul]

There are a few foods which are very good for depression

 

Brown Rice

 

Whole Grain Oats

 

Brazil Nuts (highiest in Selenium which is what depressed people lack)

 

Salmon

 

Turkey/Chicken

 

Popcorn

 

Fruit/Veg

 

Also Omega 3, 6 & 9 capsules, a B Vitamin complex, as OP have said above.

 

Other supplements are St Johns Wort, 5HTP.

 

Keeping your blodd sugar level also is important.