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Interesting review of non-drug approaches to depression and mood: - Alterations in thought (meditation) - Exposure to bright light (outdoors) - Exercise

Interesting review of non-drug approaches to depression and mood: - Alterations in thought (meditation) - Exposure to bright light (outdoors) - Exercise - tryptophan supplementation taken WITHOUT food for greater uptake - α-Lactalbumin found in Milk but not really a great option Definitely can speak to the exposure to light, and exercise ones. Nothing lifts my mood more than going for a run outside, in the heat of the sun.

arunc 8y ago
That's a big article and thanks for summarizing it!
dawhizkid 8y ago
Didn't read the article but surprised 5-HTP not mentioned?
- rubicon33 8y ago
  No mention of 5-HTP. I was surprised too.
- erinaceousjones 8y ago
  Tryptophan itself as a component of food is mentioned however, as well as tryptophan supplementation. I'd consider 5-htp and L-tryptophan to be under that "tryptophan supplementation" umbrella. The difference between 5htp and l-tryptophan is that the former doesn't require a transport molecule to get past the blood-brain barrier, so it [citation needed] converts to serotonin quicker, whereas with l-tryptophan there's a rate-limiting effect. 5-htp for faster effects, L-tryptophan to prevent building a tolerance to the extra serotonin.
  - xkcd-sucks 8y ago
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415362/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415362/
cedricium 8y ago
> Definitely can speak to the exposure to light, and exercise ones. 100% agree - went for a bike ride yesterday for the first since September, I was beaming the entire ride. Forgot how nice it is to get outside the house and away from the computer.
- PascLeRasc 8y ago
  I wrote about how lifting weights gives me a bit of a euphoric feeling, and biking does too. I love commuting by bike - I didn't realize how stressed I get commuting by car or bus in the morning until it was nice enough to bike and I got to work feeling great. I really need to live somewhere where it's possible to bike every day.
aantix 8y ago
I wonder if CBD oil raises serotonin? It seems to lift my mood for almost an entire day.
- Kirth 8y ago
  The way CBD interacts with your serotonergic system is very complicated. In short, there are many ways CBD may increase serotonin by activating the serotonin receptors but not causing re-uptake, thus increasing the amount of serotonin in the synapses. CBD is a very interesting substance. My main gripe is that, to get antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, dosages are higher than what can conveniently (and affordably) be achieved with the strength of currently available drops/flowers on the market.
  - nbardy 8y ago
    I used CBD for mental health a few years ago to great effect. This company https://hemp-market.eu/hemp-products/ https://hemp-market.eu/hemp-products/ was the only I found that made it affordable. Worth a look.
  - aantix 8y ago
    Agree. It’s easily a $60/mo investment to get a properly tested, refined dosage. Much more expensive than say a $5/mo Wellbutrin or Lexapro generic.
eiriklv 8y ago
That should not necessarily be attributed to increasing serotonin though. Sunlight increases a lot of things - endorphins, hormones, nitric oxide, etc.
- chabes 8y ago
  Vitamin D too
SpikeDad 8y ago
Let me offer a counter comment - going outside for a walk makes me more depressed. It's a quiet time that allows my mind to run wild and cause increased symptoms of depression. Now I still do it but it's hardly a positive for me personally. Of course I'm not saying you're wrong for yourself - just that there are alternative viewpoints that should be put out there.

arunc 8y ago

That's a big article and thanks for summarizing it!

dawhizkid 8y ago

Didn't read the article but surprised 5-HTP not mentioned?

rubicon33 8y ago
No mention of 5-HTP. I was surprised too.
erinaceousjones 8y ago
Tryptophan itself as a component of food is mentioned however, as well as tryptophan supplementation. I'd consider 5-htp and L-tryptophan to be under that "tryptophan supplementation" umbrella. The difference between 5htp and l-tryptophan is that the former doesn't require a transport molecule to get past the blood-brain barrier, so it [citation needed] converts to serotonin quicker, whereas with l-tryptophan there's a rate-limiting effect. 5-htp for faster effects, L-tryptophan to prevent building a tolerance to the extra serotonin.
- xkcd-sucks 8y ago
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415362/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415362/

cedricium 8y ago

> Definitely can speak to the exposure to light, and exercise ones. 100% agree - went for a bike ride yesterday for the first since September, I was beaming the entire ride. Forgot how nice it is to get outside the house and away from the computer.

PascLeRasc 8y ago
I wrote about how lifting weights gives me a bit of a euphoric feeling, and biking does too. I love commuting by bike - I didn't realize how stressed I get commuting by car or bus in the morning until it was nice enough to bike and I got to work feeling great. I really need to live somewhere where it's possible to bike every day.

aantix 8y ago

I wonder if CBD oil raises serotonin? It seems to lift my mood for almost an entire day.

Kirth 8y ago
The way CBD interacts with your serotonergic system is very complicated. In short, there are many ways CBD may increase serotonin by activating the serotonin receptors but not causing re-uptake, thus increasing the amount of serotonin in the synapses. CBD is a very interesting substance. My main gripe is that, to get antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, dosages are higher than what can conveniently (and affordably) be achieved with the strength of currently available drops/flowers on the market.
- nbardy 8y ago
  I used CBD for mental health a few years ago to great effect. This company https://hemp-market.eu/hemp-products/ https://hemp-market.eu/hemp-products/ was the only I found that made it affordable. Worth a look.
- aantix 8y ago
  Agree. It’s easily a $60/mo investment to get a properly tested, refined dosage. Much more expensive than say a $5/mo Wellbutrin or Lexapro generic.

eiriklv 8y ago

That should not necessarily be attributed to increasing serotonin though. Sunlight increases a lot of things - endorphins, hormones, nitric oxide, etc.

chabes 8y ago
Vitamin D too

SpikeDad 8y ago

Let me offer a counter comment - going outside for a walk makes me more depressed. It's a quiet time that allows my mind to run wild and cause increased symptoms of depression. Now I still do it but it's hardly a positive for me personally. Of course I'm not saying you're wrong for yourself - just that there are alternative viewpoints that should be put out there.