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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BetweenDreams81 on February 14, 2011, at 17:44:03
I am looking to add fish oil to my daily vitamins again. I had tried Barlean's brand (4 softgels/day) and it did NOTHING for me...then found out from someone that Barlean's is the best for flax but crap for fish oil. Soooo, which brand is good? I'm going with a liquid version this time as it is 'supposed' to be most effective. I've been contemplating Nordic Naturals, but it is a bit more $ than some of the others, but if it is good, it's worth the $.
I'd love to feel that clean healthy mood boost I always get from eating tuna sushi.
And also looking into liquid food source vitamins...any rec's?
Posted by morgan miller on February 14, 2011, at 23:41:02
In reply to Which brand fish oil?? Best liquid multi vit?, posted by BetweenDreams81 on February 14, 2011, at 17:44:03
Nordic Naturals or Carlson's would be my suggestions for fish oil. You may want to experiment for a few months with the fish oil and play with the dosage, then switch to cod liver oil and do the same. It's possible you could have a better response to one more than the other, given the ratios of EPA to DHA differ, albeit not that much.
I heard liquid multis are unstable, this could be wrong though. The best multivitamins are from AOR, Megafood, New Chapter, and Garden of Life-IMHO. They will all be higher priced. The Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw One is very basic and fairly affordable. Most multivitamins are dosed way too high, you want to stay away from these, or, take one but only do half or a third of the dose. Oh! I almost forgot, Vitamin Shoppe sells the both New Chapter and Vitamin Code(by Garden of Life) multis under their name at a lower cost. If you don't have a Vitamin Shoppe nearby, you can get online. Only thing is you have to order 100 dollars worth of merchandise to get free shipping (not totally sure about this)
Check out Longecity.org, there should be some good threads over there about multivitamins. They actually have a very good one called Vimmortal, made and sold by a company called Revgenetics. If you pay Longecity.org 5 dollars a month(you'll be donating money towards life extension research), you can get Vimmortal for 25 or 30 dollars I think. It normally is very expensive, something like 55 bucks for 30 capsules, not worth it unless your getting a member discount. I will say though, it was carefully formulated and may be one of the best on the market.
How are things going?
Morgan
Posted by morgan miller on February 14, 2011, at 23:42:04
In reply to Re: Which brand fish oil?? Best liquid multi vit?, posted by morgan miller on February 14, 2011, at 23:41:02
Oh yeah, also, good liquid multis are pretty darn expensive, another reason why they may not be worth investing in.
Posted by BetweenDreams81 on February 15, 2011, at 7:55:04
In reply to Re: Which brand fish oil?? Best liquid multi vit?, posted by morgan miller on February 14, 2011, at 23:41:02
Hey Morgan,
I was taking New Chapter's formula before so could go back to that...iherb.com usually has some pretty good prices. Taking a prenatal food based multi (has added iron and folic acid, so cuts down on # of things I have to swallow...one of the reasons I am looking for a liquid or powder based multi) I really like New Chapter and Planetary as far as quality goes for vit/herbals. I did take a powder some time ago called Green Vibrance. It was quite good. I like the food based multi's they just synergize better in the body.
Just did a little looking around on fish oils...it looks like DHA can induce depression?? High EPA's are supposed to be the ones linked to mood elevation...found a formula by Country Life that is 85% EPA to 15% DHA. Nordic also makes a Mood formulation with higher EPA levels...but it's like $35/month...not sure it is worth that much$/mo. Country Life's is $17 for 45 days
http://www.iherb.com/Country-Life-Omega-3-Mood-90-Softgels/1699?at=0
$38 for Minami which has no DHA
http://www.iherb.com/Minami-Nutrition-PlusEPA-Mind-Formula-60-Capsules/9225?at=0Things are goin...lol...
Yesterday is a great example, felt amazing early in the day and for most of the day, then for no apparent reason dropped into the dumps, and felt just plain empty and low. But that was yesterday, today is today.
*Just* started low dose Li (150 mg) last night around midnight. Not sure if it is possible for Li to work right away, but I did not need an Ambien last night. I was actually trying to keep myself awake to write this post and kept dozing off, so went to bed. Normally I'd still be buzzing about without Ambien til 4 AM especially if interested in something. Anyhow, even if I do take an Ambien at 10 PM it is very difficult for me to wake up in the morning, it's difficult without it too...but I was awake at 7 before my alarm. Could have been a complete and utter coincidence, but we'll see.
The plan is to take 150mg at night for the first week, then 1 at night 1 in the morning, and keep at that for a month or so. Think doc is buying time til I get back in town...kinda hard to manage new things I suppose from 1200 miles away.
That's my book for now. How are you??
Posted by morgan miller on February 15, 2011, at 13:17:02
In reply to Re: Which brand fish oil?? Best liquid multi vit? » morgan miller, posted by BetweenDreams81 on February 15, 2011, at 7:55:04
Hey BD,
I am doing better. Well at least I have less anxiety and I'm working out regularly again. I still feel pretty effed up.
I'm sure you've noticed here that people have mentioned doing better on a high DHA to EPA ratio, so it is possible you could be one of those people. I've actuall been using Country Life Omega Mood for a month or so. I think it's helping. Ya know, I don't think I really will be able to tell until the effects of Lexapro have totally kicked and there are no noticeable side effects. I used Kirkland brand, which has the typical epa to dha ratio you find in fish oil supplements, for years and did just fine on it as an adjunct to Zoloft. I've considered going back to it as it is dirt cheap and I never had issues with it. You just have to take more softgels to get more epa/dha.
I think GreenVibrance is an excellent greens/herbal/probiotic/antioxidant powder supplement. It may be the best on the market. I also love Doctor's for Nutrition Greensfirst. It tastes great without the need to add anything.
If you like New Chapter, I would stick with them. Just remember, "wholefood" all natural multivitamins are not necessarily always better. There are sever synthetic forms of vitamins/minerals that are very very well utilized and absorbed by the body. I really like what Pioneer is doing with their multivitamins. They use some of the superior forms of B's, including methylcobalamin and incorporate food powders for enhanced absorption. This is an example of a food based multi. Other food based multis are Rainbow Lite and SuperNutrition. New Chapter, Vitamin Code(Garden of Life), and Megafood, are considered to be "wholefood", "natural", "foodstate", or "raw" multis.
It is common to have an immediate reaction to lithium. I don't think you will really know if it is the right therapy for you until you are 1 to 2 weeks into taking it. You could notice more positive changes a month or two into lithium therapy. Hopefully 300 mg is enough for you and does not cause any unwanted side effects or toxicity. A 300 mg dose is much less likely to cause any issues that people experience on much higher doses, like kidney toxicity or thyroid dysfunction. I'm sure you will only need a low dose if it is the right med for you. Hope things continue to improve on Lithium!
Morgan
Posted by BetweenDreams81 on February 15, 2011, at 13:57:32
In reply to Re: Which brand fish oil?? Best liquid multi vit?, posted by morgan miller on February 15, 2011, at 13:17:02
Hi Morgan!
Yeah, I like the Green Vibrance, I may go back to it...the flavor was fine in lots of different types of juices, the only thing I need is a black mug to put it in, the color of it really puts me off, but the mug makes all the difference in getting it down. Not sure if I really want to spend the $ for it vs. New Chapter.
Funny you mention the Vitamin Code(Garden of Life) product...lol...I literally *just* got off the phone with my sis. She picked it up at Mother's Market yesterday and said the taste is unbareable, and then sat there and read the funniest reviews/descriptions of it. If you need a good laugh have a read. Maybe it's only funny if it is being read to you by someone who is cracking up, but it's pretty descriptive none the less! Hope it is as entertaining for you as it was for me:
Glad to hear you are doing better...anxiety can be a real kicker and I'm just starting to realize big of a relief it is when under control. When did you start Lexapro? What's getting to you the most to feel f'd up? I'm sure the exercise, additional supplements and your consciencious diet are going to help you get where you'd like to be faster. Hope the best for you.
Really appreciate your encouragement, I hope the Li works at the low dose! I do tend to be very sensitive to things, so the less I stress out the kidneys and liver the better! The waiting game, though, is a pain in the @$$. Kinda feel like Alice in Wonderland sometimes. Worth it in the end I guess...can't it have happened...yesterday? I suppose we're a society conditioned to expect instant gratification. lol
~Kate
PS: Ordering the Planetary Rehmannia Revitilizer and Country Omega Mood fish oil
Posted by morgan miller on February 15, 2011, at 14:30:43
In reply to Re: Which brand fish oil?? Best liquid multi vit? » morgan miller, posted by BetweenDreams81 on February 15, 2011, at 13:57:32
I think "vomit burps" was the best one, lol. Yeah GOL will products will never taste that good as they are sticklers for not using ANYTHING that they don't consider to be pure and healthy. They're kids chewable multi is pretty nasty too. It's like a bigger more bitter version of the Flinstones multi from back in the day. It just sticks to your mouth and consumes it with bitter chalkiness, and a little bit of whatever thing they use from nature to try to sweeten and soften the flavor.
Thanks for the encouraging words.
Looking forward to hearing that you have success with a low dose of Lithium!
Morgan
Posted by jjjaspar on March 11, 2011, at 8:31:55
In reply to Which brand fish oil?? Best liquid multi vit?, posted by BetweenDreams81 on February 14, 2011, at 17:44:03
> I am looking to add fish oil to my daily vitamins again. I had tried Barlean's brand (4 softgels/day) and it did NOTHING for me...then found out from someone that Barlean's is the best for flax but crap for fish oil. Soooo, which brand is good? I'm going with a liquid version this time as it is 'supposed' to be most effective. I've been contemplating Nordic Naturals, but it is a bit more $ than some of the others, but if it is good, it's worth the $.
>
> I'd love to feel that clean healthy mood boost I always get from eating tuna sushi.
>
> And also looking into liquid food source vitamins...any rec's?YES! Our family takes OmegaBrite, but here is an excellent resource about the fish oil supplements, EPA to DHA ratios, links, lists of supplements, etc. (None are sold on the site - it just lists good ones, but you can find them all online) http://itsnotmental.blogspot.com/2008/02/fish-oil-and-favorite-brands-of-omega-3.html
Posted by bleauberry on March 13, 2011, at 9:50:28
In reply to Which brand fish oil?? Best liquid multi vit?, posted by BetweenDreams81 on February 14, 2011, at 17:44:03
The most important things about fish oil brands...
1) Brands that specify they are free of heavy metals and contaminants.
2) Brands that have the ratio of oils that you respond best to (trail and error).As for vitamins, the most effective ones I have ever encountered are made by Thorne Research. These are usually only sold in doctor's offices but there are a few websites where you can order them on the net. What's the difference with them? Well, the binders and fillers in vitamins....many of them actually interfere with absorption or are allergic. Thorne uses good safe stuff. The actual vitamins and minerals themselves.....the molecule they are attached to makes all the difference in the world. There is, just as one small example, a huge difference between zinc oxide and zinc picolinate. Huge difference between magnesium+whatever versus magnesium malate. B6 needs to have at least some of its metabolic form P5P in there. Same with B12....it needs to begin with "methyl..." or "adenosyl".... if it doesn't, it's crap and mostly useless. Thorne just happens to have every single ingredient the best it can be. I have not encountered any other vitamin/mineral manufacturers that do that. And you can definitely feel the difference.
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