Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil and Depression
I was in my study in Long Island two weeks ago when the phone rang. Turns out an old buddy of mine hadn’t been feeling up to snuff so he took a trip to his family practitioner. And the medication the doctor gave him, made him feel worse.
He wanted a second opinion, and I’ve never been one to hold back. However I’m also hesitant to countermand another physician’s advice. After all, I don’t have the full story, nor a patient examination. But he was a good friend of mine so I made an exception.
He answered all my questions without hesitating. I gave him some advice, including a trip back to his doctor. He told his doctor the rest of the story and asked a few more questions. The doctor gave him the same advice I did.
That’s a good thing.
Initially, his doctor had put him on anti-depressants, and while anti-depressants are exactly the right medicine for some, they are not the right call for others.
My advice was to get the entire story out. Quite often doctors only get the story the patient feels like telling, and critical information is left out. Then the diagnosis can be wrong.
After listening to my friend for about half an hour, I determined that he had a few things affecting his life that he needed to change.
1. He was not getting enough sunlight. This isn’t a joke. Sunlight is critical to mood and emotion, and those who work indoors are affected much more often than they think, especially in Winter. I advised him to get outside at least once a day for 20 minutes.
2. He needed more exercise. My advice was twenty minutes a day of walking, and work his way up to 45 minutes.
3. My friend had to cut his drinking by 75%.
4. He needed to make some changes in his diet. This should be easier, because he doesn’t have any food phobias. (This is where a person only eats certain things, and fears eating things that are actually good for you.) He needs to work in more fruit and vegetables, and decrease the amount of red meat he is eating.
5. He should take an ultra pure pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Fish oil has been shown time and again to support cognitive function, mood, and neurological healing.
His body needs balance.
But he’s not getting it by drinking too much, eating like a lion in the wild, not exercising, and staying inside.
The changes his family physician and I outlined will make a big difference in a short time. And that’s the key to great health. Getting started now.