This post is for the rest of us. As I wrote in my last post, I have experienced several profound benefits from the WAPF diet. To be clear, I was eating "well", according to politically correct nutritional standards, before I discovered WAPF. I knew enough to know that refined carbs are bad, and I should be eating plenty of vegetables and fruits. I had read Dr. Atkins' book in high school, so I was acquainted with the idea that saturated fats are not the villains they've been made out to be, but still didn't include much of them in my diet. And raw milk was unheard of. Since adding in more saturated fat, raw milk, and other nutrient-dense foods I've been able to eliminate infections, I have soft skin and hair and I don't crave sugar nearly as much as I used to. My brief experience as a vegetarian compared with the WAPF diet confirmed to me that the latter is the best way of eating long-term.
Unfortunately, even with the abundance of mood-supporting nutrients like vitamin D, B12, and Omega-3 fatty acids in my diet, I still suffer from depression. I know it would be a lot worse if I ate the aptly-named SAD diet-Standard American Diet-but it is still a challenge I face daily. Honestly, I have tried many supplements over the years in my quest to treat my depression drug-free, but have been mostly disappointed. These are some things I've tried that do help:
-Magnesium. I take a multivitamin/multimineral that has several other minerals in it, but that product doesn't make any difference in my mental state (hence why I'm not including it here.) I'm actually considering not buying another bottle after this one is finished, because although I've heard a multi is good for "covering your bases", I can't see spending money on something that doesn't work. Magnesium, on the other hand... I can tell a difference when I'm taking it vs. when I'm not. This is one of the nutrients that can be extremely hard to get from your diet because the soils throughout the United States are so depleted. No animal products, not even fish, contain an appreciable amount. I suppose bone broth would have trace magnesium, but certainly not enough to correct a deficiency, which is common throughout the developed world. The best form to take by far, according to my research, is the ionic form. It can be liquid, or more commonly, a powder that you mix with hot water. Supposedly topical forms (epsom salt baths, magnesium oil, patches) are good as well. The Weston A. Price foundation has an excellent article on magnesium here:
Another important thing to note is that as important as clean raw milk is in the diet, magnesium and calcium act as antagonists.. so it is possible to get too much calcium in relationship to magnesium, and end up with a deficiency. There is wisdom in the saying, "everything in moderation" (except when it comes to things like aspartame and trans fats, of course.) :-)
-Tyrosine. This is a non-essential amino acid, non-essential meaning you don't need it in your diet because the body manufactures it from another amino acid. (By the way, there are several amino acids shown to be helpful in depression, and they correspond to different neurotransmitters which they help make.) I started out taking 500 mg in the morning; now I'm up to 1,000 mg and I think it's making a difference. Tyrosine is the precursor to norepinephrine, which has been described as the brain's adrenaline. If, like me, you tend to sleep more than less, have a hard time getting motivated, and generally feel sluggish and tired when depressed, you might be deficient in-or dependent on-Tyrosine (more on the difference between deficiency and dependency later.) A side benefit of Tyrosine is that it helps boost the thyroid. ***Amino acids used therapeutically should be taken separately from other amino acids or protein-containing foods because aminos compete with each other for uptake in the cells.
-Of course it doesn't hurt to be taking a good cod liver oil. Although I haven't experienced miracle effects from it, I'm worse when I don't take it. You can also get vitamin D and EFA's in lard from pasture-raised pigs and meat from grass-fed ruminants respectively, but they're not near as plentiful as in cod liver oil. Cod liver oil also contains an ample amount of Vitamin A-retinol, the kind your body can absorb without going through a complicated conversion process. Certainly if you're dealing with a medical disorder, you want to be getting as much of the fat-soluble vitamins as possible. Here's another excellent article for those interested in this powerful superfood:
I hope these suggestions were helpful to someone. As always, if you have any questions or need help with something, feel free to ask! I'll do my best to help.
