We should all be taking advantage of this
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The safest, most natural anti-depressant we have
Depression has been a serious problem in the Western world for the last few decades.
I’ve been writing about the problems with the low-serotonin-hypothesis of depression for a few years now.
This hypothesis was the basis for marketing SSRI antidepressant medications and just recently…
…the establishment admitted that the low serotonin hypothesis is wrong.
On a related note, a recent, massive meta-analysis of research looking at vitamin D and depression shows that vitamin D, unlike serotonin and SSRIs, does have antidepressant effects.
Depression is mainly caused by low energy and inflammation – both of which can be improved by optimizing vitamin D levels.
The human research was carried out at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, Finland. The paper was published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
The authors of this study were curious about the implications of a number of effects of vitamin D on depression.
First, vitamin D can improve the production of neurosteroids – safe, natural brain hormones which play a massive role in our mood and in energy production in the brain.
Secondly, vitamin D helps to keep inflammation under control.
It does this via regulatory effects on the immune system.
This immune/anti-inflammatory effect can also help to tame depression.
“Neurosteroid and immunological actions of vitamin D may regulate depression-linked physiology.”
There is a lot of research on vitamin D and depression out there.
The results are conflicting because some studies are designed more appropriately than others.
This research project involved identifying the best high quality human trials and combining all of that data in order to give the most powerful conclusions on that topic.
“This meta-analysis investigated the efficacy of vitamin D in reducing depressive symptoms among adults in randomized placebo-controlled trials.”
The researchers excluded some studies which had included people with confounding neuropsychiatric problems or studies that included people doing other treatments which could confuse the results.
“Light therapy, co-supplementation (except calcium) and bipolar disorder were exclusionary.”
The researchers gathered studies from the major online medical research databases.
They analyzed these studies systematically for risk of high bias and excluded those they believed were likely to be biased.
The final analysis had data from over 50,000 trial participants!
“Forty-one randomized placebo-controlled trials (n = 53,235) were included.”
The results of this largest ever analysis on the effects of vitamin D on depression were positive.
The research showed that taking vitamin D helps with depression.
“Results for the main outcome revealed a positive effect of vitamin D on depressive symptoms.”
The research also showed that the dose is important.
A few years ago it was common to read recommendations of vitamin D citing doses as little as 100 or 500 IU per day.
This is an insignificant amount of vitamin D.
The average person needs about 5000 IU per day to optimize vitamin D in the dark winter months.
This study showed that antidepressant effects of this nutrient were only apparent when doses were above 2000 IU per day.
“Notwithstanding high heterogeneity, vitamin D supplementation ≥ 2,000 IU/day appears to reduce depressive symptoms.”
The beneficial hormonal effects of vitamin D, combined with its ability to limit chronic inflammation and help the body produce energy more efficiently…
…go a long way to explain why vitamin D seems to have an antidepressant effect – provided the dose is appropriate.
“Future research should investigate possible benefits of augmenting standard treatments with vitamin D in clinical depression.”
You should always consult your healthcare practitioner for guidance on medical diagnosis and treatment.
—-Important Message—-
My message to men
There is an epidemic of men suffering with mental health problems alone…
Until they do the unthinkable.
I want to do something to change this.
I want to encourage men who are feeling down, who have depression or anxiety, or feelings of self-loathing…
…to talk to me, open up and find a brotherhood of men who share similar issues…
And let’s find natural therapies for getting better mental health, and things you can try as soon as today to feel better.
I am not a medical professional and I cannot take the place of a licensed therapist, but I encourage men to seek help if they need it.
I offer my Perfect Mental Health Transformation for any man who is interested.
It can get you on the right path, and maybe help open up other doors for you.
Just know, I care and I’m here for you anytime. God bless.
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