Niacin is the -only- supplement I've ever taken that has increased my focus and confidence
Greetings. I've tried many different supplements over the past year, all in the hopes of making my brain focus better and increasing my confidence/reducing my anxiety.
Fish oil (with lots of DHA)
5-HTP.
N-Acetyl Tyrosine.
Ginkgo biloba.
Vitamin D (5000 IU).
GABA.
Taurine.
Thiamin.
Curcumin.
CoQ10.
Maca.
Resveratrol.
Spirulina.
Ok, it's actually not so important that I go into all the details of how much I took of what, but to sum up, I was very patient and gave each supplement at least several months. No difference! They were from highly rated brands too. With all the research I had done about serotonin and dopamine and how they were affected by these different nutrients and amino acids, it just didn't make sense. I felt absolutely certain that I was serotonin deficient and that I had been since childhood. It started to look as though there really was no nutrient or combination of nutrients that would allow me to produce the neurotransmitters needed for me to feel more energetic and to stop having such a hard time concentrating when reading or listening to someone explain something. So I was very disappointed time after time. But I never gave up. I just kept doing more and more research, though it seemed increasingly futile. Hellishly complex stuff, so it would have to do for me to only understand certain elemental facts rather than the intricate mechanics, as though it were really necessary anyway.
Ok, long story short...about a month and a half ago, I happened upon a video of Orthomolecular Psychiatry, pioneered by Dr. Linus Pauling (the two-time Nobel laureate who popularized taking vitamin C supplements) and Dr. Abram Hoffer. I was supremely interested in what Dr. Hoffer was saying about curing patients of schizophrenia using a combination of wholesome nutrition with total elimination of any allergenic foods, and with multi-gram doses of certain vitamins, especially B3/niacin. But he also said that niacin in doses of 3g a day had cured one of his friends, a co-founder of AA, Bill Wilson (died 1971), of depression in a matter of a few weeks, and that shortly after that, Bill had given 30 of his friends in AA niacin, and of that group, 2 out of 3 were 'normal' (cured of alcoholism or at least depression, he didn't say) within 2 months. Ok, rather than try to explain it further myself I'll just include the video in which he talked about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH1_v0zh_gk
So I decided it would be worth it for me to try niacin, and I started off on 200mg a day for a week (I take the regular kind which causes a flush, because I read that it's more effective at reducing anxiety than the flush-free kind), then went to 400 and shortly thereafter just decided to jump to 2000mg (2g). I don't think I'll need to go higher than that. I saw no difference in mood or cognitive function until just yesterday, after having been on it for I think 3 weeks. I know I'm not imagining this either. I can now type a little more accurately and handwrite a little faster, and feel more motivated to move around. Just as importantly, I'm finding that I can be expressive more easily without being uncomfortable afterward. However, it does seem to be decreasing my appetite (just over the past 3 days in fact), which is of no small concern because I weigh so little and simply can't afford to lose any. I sure hope this will pass soon, because I don't want to just skip a day of niacin...though maybe I should to see what happens. Anyway, that's all I feel like saying for now...but since it IS making a positive difference, I just thought I'd let people know about it...especially if the improvements continue.
I have tried taking niacin several times and find it extremely uncomfortable. Not only do I get the flush but it makes my face swell too. I wish I could take it without this reaction.
I would think that all those supplements that you tried to take before niacin will work now much better while on niacin. Niacin will promote the movement of these nutrients into the brain and other body parts due to improved vascularity.... but of course that is not to say that you truely need them. That would remain to be seen but I guarantee that some of them will bring to you long term benefits if you continue with them, especially the D3 and resveratrol. The effects of these are not necessarily something that you will feel, but they will promote longterm regenerative functions.
I have tried taking niacin several times and find it extremely uncomfortable. Not only do I get the flush but it makes my face swell too. I wish I could take it without this reaction.
Niacinamide will not cause these side effects, even at 500mg 3x/day dosage.
Dr. Hoffer was absolutely correct.
__________________
Let Food Be Your Medicine And Medicine Be Your Food.(Hippocrates)
Greetings. I've tried many different supplements over the past year, all in the hopes of making my brain focus better and increasing my confidence/reducing my anxiety.
Fish oil (with lots of DHA)
5-HTP.
N-Acetyl Tyrosine.
Ginkgo biloba.
Vitamin D (5000 IU).
GABA.
Taurine.
Thiamin.
Curcumin.
CoQ10.
Maca.
Resveratrol.
Spirulina.
Ok, it's actually not so important that I go into all the details of how much I took of what, but to sum up, I was very patient and gave each supplement at least several months. No difference! They were from highly rated brands too. With all the research I had done about serotonin and dopamine and how they were affected by these different nutrients and amino acids, it just didn't make sense. I felt absolutely certain that I was serotonin deficient and that I had been since childhood. It started to look as though there really was no nutrient or combination of nutrients that would allow me to produce the neurotransmitters needed for me to feel more energetic and to stop having such a hard time concentrating when reading or listening to someone explain something. So I was very disappointed time after time. But I never gave up. I just kept doing more and more research, though it seemed increasingly futile. Hellishly complex stuff, so it would have to do for me to only understand certain elemental facts rather than the intricate mechanics, as though it were really necessary anyway.
Ok, long story short...about a month and a half ago, I happened upon a video of Orthomolecular Psychiatry, pioneered by Dr. Linus Pauling (the two-time Nobel laureate who popularized taking vitamin C supplements) and Dr. Abram Hoffer. I was supremely interested in what Dr. Hoffer was saying about curing patients of schizophrenia using a combination of wholesome nutrition with total elimination of any allergenic foods, and with multi-gram doses of certain vitamins, especially B3/niacin. But he also said that niacin in doses of 3g a day had cured one of his friends, a co-founder of AA, Bill Wilson (died 1971), of depression in a matter of a few weeks, and that shortly after that, Bill had given 30 of his friends in AA niacin, and of that group, 2 out of 3 were 'normal' (cured of alcoholism or at least depression, he didn't say) within 2 months. Ok, rather than try to explain it further myself I'll just include the video in which he talked about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH1_v0zh_gk
So I decided it would be worth it for me to try niacin, and I started off on 200mg a day for a week (I take the regular kind which causes a flush, because I read that it's more effective at reducing anxiety than the flush-free kind), then went to 400 and shortly thereafter just decided to jump to 2000mg (2g). I don't think I'll need to go higher than that. I saw no difference in mood or cognitive function until just yesterday, after having been on it for I think 3 weeks. I know I'm not imagining this either. I can now type a little more accurately and handwrite a little faster, and feel more motivated to move around. Just as importantly, I'm finding that I can be expressive more easily without being uncomfortable afterward. However, it does seem to be decreasing my appetite (just over the past 3 days in fact), which is of no small concern because I weigh so little and simply can't afford to lose any. I sure hope this will pass soon, because I don't want to just skip a day of niacin...though maybe I should to see what happens. Anyway, that's all I feel like saying for now...but since it IS making a positive difference, I just thought I'd let people know about it...especially if the improvements continue.
IMHO no amount of supplementation will overcome dietary "errors".. the list is impressive, but apart from fish oil and D3, I wouldn't bother, as long as your nutrition is right. Most importantly, the paleo approach, I am convinced is right. The only other "supplementation" I favour is raw egg yolks - either cook or throw the whites.
Restoring hormone balance via intermittent fasting, and moderate resistance exercise will help retsore mental clarity.
I presume you don't drink diet soda? Aspartame will overcome good nutrition - there are some good threads here..
the list is impressive, but apart from fish oil and D3, I wouldn't bother, as long as your nutrition is right.
You obviously don't know much about resveratrol, or curcumin, or Co Q10.
How much spirulina is there in an egg yolk? Answer: zero.
It is not possible to get all you need from nutrition since soil is depleted of magnesium, selenium, and chromium, thus making supplementation necessary.
Very few people, besides Japanese, get enough iodine in the diet, therefore making supplementation necessary. Same goes for D3 and fatty acids.
Eggs come from diseased chickens, that are fed antibiotics in their food so they can live 45 days. Their bones are black because they have no magnesium, and they are full of fungus from the antibiotics, and all that gets passed on to the consumer..
Hi pinballdoctor
True not a great deal - but to take just one item - resveratrol - just an antioxidant being heavily marketed as the answer to old age - is this natural medicine? Basically. I guess I'm "antisupplementarian" - it galls me to take D3 and fish oil, but since I recognise that I'll never get adequate sun exposure, and that I don't eat enough fish.. Now there's the thing about vitamin K - so will I start eating natto? No. Will I fall for the hype and buy supplements? No again.
Of course grain based foods (in particular) are depleted in micronutrients - but I avoid them anyway. I do, for example, regularly eat brazil nuts (still rich in selenium, even if depleted)
No problems with eating Spirulina - that's a food.
(Why would I look for it in eggs?)
Most of the eggs I eat are from a small holding, or certified organic. I do admit I don't keep chickens!
My beef with supplementation is that it's not NATURAL - I don't wish to stick my head in the sand either, so I do study what's out there. I remain sceptical, or at least unconvinced of the benefits of a lot of it, and I've personally experienced the power of intermittent fasting, and low carb nutrition.
All I am saying is that sometimes we jump into taking supplements, when simpler solutions may be at hand.
I'll be looking into your assertions of micronutrient depletion as it impacts my dietary choices, thanks for the alert.
QUOTE=mindmt;168557]
- resveratrol - just an antioxidant being heavily marketed as the answer to old age
There is much more to resveratrol than that. Grapes produce resveratrol to protect from fungus, thus, grapes are anti-fungal. If you eat grapes, then you get the anti-fungal benefit.
The main problem is we don't eat grapes on a regular basis. It is much easier to take a supplement that contains resveratrol, although I would suggest doing both.
Every 10 or 20 years a superstar product becomes available.
Resveratrol is a superstar product.
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Now there's the thing about vitamin K -
This is another supplement I would recommend, especially to anyone who is worried about bone health. Just 45 mcg of K2 per day will make a big difference in bone density and strength.
Quote:
My beef with supplementation is that it's not NATURAL -
The alternative is to eat genetically modified food, which is not natural. People think GMO is limited to corn, soy, wheat, oats, and barley, but now there is GMO meat.
Quote:
I've personally experienced the power of intermittent fasting, and low carb nutrition.
There is no problem with complex carbs, only with the simple carbs, such as sugar (especially fructose). These carbs should be eaten with fibre, which would further eliminate blood sugar spikes.
Quote:
All I am saying is that sometimes we jump into taking supplements, when simpler solutions may be at hand.
As long as there are companies like Monsanto there will be a need for supplements. Ever wonder why the soil looks so dry and has so many cracks? Its due to chemical fertilizers and herbicides like roundup, and its killing the soil.
There is much more to resveratrol than that. Grapes produce resveratrol to protect from fungus, thus, grapes are anti-fungal. If you eat grapes, then you get the anti-fungal benefit.
The main problem is we don't eat grapes on a regular basis. It is much easier to take a supplement that contains resveratrol, although I would suggest doing both.
Every 10 or 20 years a superstar product becomes available.
Resveratrol is a superstar product.
Guess we'll have to disagree - we're just talking polyphenols here - there are more potent sources.. I maintain this is major marketing hype.
Intermittent fasting is the best way to combat oxidative stress - make your own antioxidants - far more potent than anything you can eat. If you want the science, check out Michael Ristow's research.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pinballdoctor
This is another supplement I would recommend, especially to anyone who is worried about bone health. Just 45 mcg of K2 per day will make a big difference in bone density and strength.
If we're studying K2 - not all K2 sources are chemically identical - this is what ticks me off about supplements in general - it's like looking fior the holy grail sometimes. If you're OK with "normal" K2 - it's in fermented food like sauerkraut (yum)
Quote:
Originally Posted by pinballdoctor
The alternative is to eat genetically modified food, which is not natural. People think GMO is limited to corn, soy, wheat, oats, and barley, but now there is GMO meat.
GMO meat is only around because we feed livestock with grains - not good practice anyhow. GMO is pretty much limited to momocrops like cereal grains. We weren't meant to eat them anyway!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pinballdoctor
There is no problem with complex carbs, only with the simple carbs, such as sugar (especially fructose). These carbs should be eaten with fibre, which would further eliminate blood sugar spikes.
Starch is a complex carb - the body is extraordinarily efficient in converting it to sugar. A carb is a carb - don't kid yourself.
Eggs come from diseased chickens, that are fed antibiotics in their food so they can live 45 days. Their bones are black because they have no magnesium, and they are full of fungus from the antibiotics, and all that gets passed on to the consumer..
Yuuuuck!
don't we have a rule about graphic nastiness?
Niacin is the -only- supplement I've ever taken that has increased my focus and confidence
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