Sources of vitamin D for mood support
Cod Liver Oil and Vitamin D will help support mood, especially during winter months. Cod Liver Oil is one of those time-tested remedies, that your parents and grandparents may have talked about. It has been used as a food and medicine for centuries. Reports indicate ancient Vikings would store cod livers in caskets to ferment.
The first official medical documented use of Cod Liver Oil was in 1789 when a doctor in Manchester, England, used it to treat rheumatism. In the following centuries doctors began to use Cod Liver Oil to treat rickets; a disease linked with vitamin D deficiencies. The use of Cod Liver Oil for this condition and related conditions continued into the 20th century.
Vitamin D and Fatty Acids for mood support
Only in the last 15 years or so has the idea of a vitamin D deficiency became more apparent. Researchers have discovered that this deficiency is far more common than previously thought. An area of concern regarding this is in depression. Studies indicate that approximately 63% of women and 35% will experience clinical depression at some point in their life.
Research from Oregon State University shows that low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with significant clinical symptoms of depression in otherwise healthy individuals. Receptor sites for vitamin D are located in the same part of the brain that processes emotions. Exhibiting some similar symptoms to depression, evidence exists that suggests Seasonal Affective Disorder is linked to the level of vitamin D in the blood.
So how can vitamin D support mood? A supplement can help regulate the production of key brain chemicals, such as serotonin, that are involved in the regulation of mood. Vitamin D also dampens the inflammatory response in the brain, which is key in influencing mood by activating the stress response.
Fish oil supplement
In addition to supplementing with vitamin D, adding a fish oil supplement such as Fermented Cod Liver Oil to your diet can help counter a deficinecy. Studies have also reported that there is a correlation between countries with high rates of fish oil consumption and low rates of depression. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fermented cod liver oil improve cell membrane and nerve function, which is critical to the richest source of fats in the body, the brain.
The bottom line is that fish oils rich in fatty acids provide powerful nutritional support for brain health and a positive mood. Cod liver oil is a rich source of fatty acids and vitamins A & D. To starve off mood disorders, it is recommended to supplement with vitamin D and fish oil.