Vitamin D in FCLO/BO? x-posted in mental health

[Magelet]

I'm trying to support my health in some mental health issues I've been having that I know both Vitamin D and omega-3's often help, and got some Green Pastures FCLO/BO combo gelatin free capsules. I haven't done my Vitamin D level testing yet (I do plan to,) however I just got the Fermented Cod Liver Oil/Butter oil combo, for Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Omega-3's.

However, I learned that the capsules only have 240 iu vitamin D per serving (I don't think I can afford more than 1 serving a day....), and I'm wondering if I really want the Vitamin D's effect, should I perhaps supplement with a D3 that is more affordable as well? I know that Fermented cod liver oil and butter oil are a very synergistic combo and work better together than apart, but I'm worried that's probably not enough. Isn't that not even a maintenance dose? I'd go with Carlson's D3 drops to supplement more Vit. D, since I've heard they are good, though feel free to recommend me other brands if you prefer them.


Thank you so much for your help!

[blueridgewoman]

Well, I think to a degree, it depends on your blood level. If you're low, that could be why you're having some mental health issues (and I know you know that), but if you have decent levels, the maintenance dose provided from the FCLO/BO combo might be enough and you may have to look elsewhere for the cause of what's going on...

OTOH, assuming you have reasonable D levels, you may find that the FCLO/BO improves or resolves the problem anyway since there are all kinds of nutrients in there.

I'll take this opportunity to say that I managed PPD and a bit of OCD/depression with FCLO and a gluten free diet (the GF diet is key) for a year. (Though I just started back on my meds this week after a rather spectacular downward spiral that couldn't, no matter how hard I tried, be resolved with diet and supplementation, but that's rare AFAIK). You might try changing your diet in conjunction with supplementation.

I'd say really that the bottom line is that you need to know your Vit D levels before you determine the level of supplementation and support you need. Good luck!

[Magelet]

Thank you. I really do need to do that blood testing. My doc is just so far away, I really ought to get one closer to where I am.

thank you also, for sharing that gluten free helped you. as much as I really don't want to be gluten free (bread is such a staple, and gluten free bread is never the same) it might be worth trying it to be med-free, but only after I've tried other less drastic measures I think. I'll learn more about it though. My thanks.

[deditus]

I would take as much FCLO/BO as you can afford to, and take extra D3, and if you can Carlson's fish oil really helped me with my anxiety/depression (I also went gf and felt more relief). If you get it online at Vitacost it is reasonable. I needed to take a high dose for a short time but I felt better within weeks and now I just take the regular dose.

[tanyalynn]

I'll just add that I think the start-dosing-then-test advice from the vitamin D council is quite reasonable. I think they have some funky interpretations of things re: vitamin A, but for strictly vitamin D, I think it's a good approach.

[JaneS]

I agree with Tanya, The Vitamin D Council has said that you need 5,000 IU per day average year round, if you get "some sun". I felt tremendously better when I started getting my blood levels up with 10,000 IU per day.

Most brands are the same D3 made from lanolin (if you get the gel/oil forms.) So go with the cheapest. I currently have some 5,000 IU from NOW tiny caps that were pretty cheap. I didn't work out with the Carlson drops which was more cost effective though.

[JaneS]

Also eating more protein (Julia Ross's book The Mood Cure) and supplementing magnesium (transdermally) has been key for me in the mood department too.

[Magelet]

I've started taking the clo, though it's only been two pms y days, not enough time to see, and will probably start another d supplemet soon. Though I do worry about then getting vit a and vit d out of proportion, aren't they suppose to be in a specific proportion?
With the protien, that is something I've been struggling a lot with lately. I feel as though I do need more protien but then only way we could afford more meat/cheese/eggs is by swapping the amount of high quality we get now (pastured meat, organic chicken, pastured eggs,) for more but poorer quality. I'm not sure it's worth it. Will you tell me more about the mood cure? Maybe I should check it out. What do you think in regards to quality vs amount?

Thank you so much, mamas, for shaing you expeiriences with me. It's very helpful.

[deditus]

Originally Posted by Magelet

I've started taking the clo, though it's only been two pms y days, not enough time to see, and will probably start another d supplemet soon. Though I do worry about then getting vit a and vit d out of proportion, aren't they suppose to be in a specific proportion?
With the protien, that is something I've been struggling a lot with lately. I feel as though I do need more protien but then only way we could afford more meat/cheese/eggs is by swapping the amount of high quality we get now (pastured meat, organic chicken, pastured eggs,) for more but poorer quality. I'm not sure it's worth it. Will you tell me more about the mood cure? Maybe I should check it out. What do you think in regards to quality vs amount?

Thank you so much, mamas, for shaing you expeiriences with me. It's very helpful.

I really liked The Mood Cure and it is usually available at the library. I think Julia Ross recommends 20 g of protein at each meal, so perhaps not necessarily that you need a lot more protein but maybe you just need to spread it out over the day? I know that was the case for me, 20 g isn't really that much. We still eat some grocery store meat, there's just nothing we could really replace it with. Also, I think Nora Gegaudas talks about mood and food in Primal Body, Primal Mind and I liked her emphasis on fats and not overeating protein, so I think that may interest you, too.

[Magelet]

That is a lot more protien than I get on an avrage day I think. I' say I get between 20 -35 g at dinner most nigts though sometimes much less, 20-30 g at lunch 3x a week and 0-10 g for breakfast and the other lunches. That's all very very rough guesswork and could be a lot more but I don't think so. I do eat some broth which has a protein sparing effect but probably not enough protien. Man oh man do I wan to move someplace where we can keep chickens... Thanks I'll check out both of those books

[JaneS]

I'll be back but to say it quickly, the premise of 'The Mood Cure' is that high insulin from high carb meals and esp refined sugar and flour sweeps out beneficial amino acids/neurotransmitters from blood and thus causes mood swings/depression/panic attacks by starving the brain from what it is supposed to run on. It really is a new foundation to explain why this is happening to so many people... and personally I can say for sure it works. So no necessarily eating lots of protein is the only answer but lower carb and low refined carb compared to your protein. And more good quality fats also slow insulin. But our amino acids are made from protein, and I know many women skip on the protein.

more Vitamin D info
http://homefirst.com/info-1/current-...itamin-d3.html

[Teenytoona]

Definitely check out The Mood Cure. It does suggest supplements per the symptoms you're having, but it also talks about diet modifications so that you can get off the supplements. I had been having horrible rage problems since DD was born, and I can't tell you how much a difference this book's suggestions have made for me. I got it out at the local library (and will be checking it out again).

I used to roar my way through the mornign routine and stress out that I couldn't get anythign done, and we'd all leave feeling stressed, and kids feeling horrible because I was just a monster. But here we are and I've been taking supplements and attempting modifications and for part of November and the majority of December I have not been a ball of stress, in fact, we almost always leave the house with cheerful goodbyes and everyone in good spirits. Do check it out.

[JaneS]

Another good book is 'Depression Free Naturally'.