McKinney Chiropractor;
Vitamin D for Mental Health
Shared by Dr. Travis Downs
With the holidays among us, We need to take the time to make sure we stay on top of our mental stress and our mental health. “According to a recent survey, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that approximately 24% of people with a diagnosed mental illness find that the holidays make their condition “a lot” worse and 40% “somewhat” worse.” The holidays are tough for a lot of people for multiple reasons. It’s typically a combination of work stress, financial stress, or stress from losing a loved one in the past. No matter what the stress is we need to make sure that we are getting enough vitamin D into our bodies. This is the time of year where our Vitamin D levels start to drop because we are spending less time out in the sun and have more stress. When our Vitamin D levels drop, our immune systems are more susceptible to bacteria and viruses and that’s why this is the time of year everyone gets the flu. Vitamin D also plays a key role in hormone production along with helping the immune system. When there isn’t enough Vitamin D to go around, we can’t produce brain balancing hormones such as serotonin. Serotonin is a key hormone that stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness in our brains. So, if you want to turn that frown upside down make sure your getting 4000-5000 IU of Vitamin D today and give your brain a serotonin boost.
- “One investigation in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome found that pain symptoms, depression, and anxiety were strongly associated with insufficient vitamin D.”
- “Depression and anxiety also are components of “seasonal affective disorder” (SAD) and
there is some evidence that SAD is influenced by diminished stores of vitamin D, which
would be expected to occur during winter months.”
- “In an earlier study, patients with clinical depression were randomized to receive vitamin D3
supplementation or placebo [Lansdowne and Provost 1998]. On self-reported measures, those
patients administered vitamin D had significantly enhanced mood and a reduction in negative-affect symptoms. The authors speculated that vitamin D might have had positive effects
on brain serotonin levels, similar to how many anti-depressant or mood-stabilizing medications affect this neurotransmitter.”
References
- Vitamin D – A Neglected ‘Analgesic’for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
An Evidence-Based Review & Clinical Practice Guidance
Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD
Our Message
Our Chiropractors, in McKinney, located near the corner of Eldorado Pkwy. and Ridge Rd. are here to help educate our patients on how to live a healthier lifestyle by teaching our patients the link between how you eat and how your choices can effect your health. We are committed to getting rid of back pain, neck pain and headaches with chiropractic adjustments and exercise.