Many patients on anti-depressants still experience low mood. They often come in wanting more support. There are some things we can do to help improve your mood that are safe to take while on anti-depressants. I'll outline 3 things I like to use in combination to anti-depressants to help my patients improve their mood.
1) Vitamin D - People with low mood or depression generally have lower levels of vitamin D. Thankfully we can supplement with vitamin D to help improve levels, and improve mood and quality of life.
2) Fish oil - Time and time again, research has shown the benefit of using omega-3 fish oils to improve mood in depression [1]. A lot of people take fish oil, but they don't necessarily take the right DOSE. In order to help with depression, fish oil needs to be taken at a higher dose. A licensed naturopathic doctor can help you dose this correctly.
3) B vitamins - Our bodies need B vitamins to be able to break down amino acids. When we don't have enough B vitamins, we don't recycle the amino acids properly, and this can cause the bad amino acids like homocysteine to build up. By supplementing B vitamins, we can help lower the bad amino acids, lower inflammation, and improve mood [2]
Are you ready to improve your mood? Book an appointment with Dr. Shadi today.
1. Bai, ZG., Bo, A. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and reduction of depressive symptoms in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
2. Young, ML et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of B vitamin supplementation on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress. Nutrients 2019.
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