Feeling low?
Let’s say you’re feeling low. So low, in fact, that you sink into depression. Your mainstream doctor spends a few minutes with you and scrawls out a prescription for an antidepressant.
“Let’s give this a try,” he says as he sends you on your way.
But what if you’d gone to a doctor skilled in natural medicine instead? Things might have gone very differently, especially in light of new findings linking cognitive function and depression to a couple of powerhouse vitamins.
A study of over 2,000 participants recently showed that having a low level of vitamin B12 is associated with an increased risk of depression. At the same time, low levels of both B12 and B6 were shown to be associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment.
Now, reports of the study are cautioning that the study doesn’t show that taking extra of these B vitamins will improve your mental prowess or pull you out of a depression. But connecting the dots there’s certainly a very strong argument for keeping your levels up.
Another study found that daily supplements of folic acid, B6, and B12 were associated with 30 percent lower levels of homocysteine as well as improvements in various mental tests. High levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
So, it looks like there’s definitely something to this link between B and the brain. (Subscribers can read Dr. Wright’s take on folate vs. folic acid, including which one you REALLY need, here.)
Look, sometimes people need the “big guns” of pharmaceuticals. But why should they be the first line of defense when there’s a good chance that bringing your body back into balance could help it heal?
A doctor who knows his natural medicine can thoroughly test your levels of a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Then he can work with you to raise your levels to what’s right for you.
If you’re still looking for a doctor skilled in natural medicine, here’s a good place to search.
P. S. Summer cold got you down? Check out these tips from Dr. Wright.
Sources:
“Vitamin B6 and B12 levels linked to mental function and depression,” NutraIngredients USA (nutraingredients-usa.com)
