✨Supplements for Natural Mood Support ✨
So many teens and kids deal with feeling crabby, irritated, sad, or blue…..some parents think there is nothing they can do except go to their doctor for a prescription medications.
Sure, there are some people who could benefit from a prescription, but I bet that MANY could benefit from eating healthier foods, exercising, and taking targeted nutritional supplements for natural mood support.
Here are some supplements I frequently recommend. However, please know the best way to know what is right for you, your child or teen is do functional medicine testing. Getting the right integrative therapies requires an integrative pediatrician to help you sort through which specific supplements for natural mood support are right for you or your specific child or teen:
💊 St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort is an herb that can be taken as a liquid or capsule and has been shown to support mood. It does interact with some medications and supplements, so check with me to be sure it is safe for your individual child. If you are your child are already on antidepressant medication or anti-anxiety medication this may not be the best supplement to use.
💊 Tryptophan or 5-HTP
Tryptophan is a naturally occurring amino acid in foods but can be boosted with supplementation. Tryptophan crosses into the brain, where it is converted into 5-HTP and then into serotonin. It's important to do functional medicine testing to get to the bottom of if these specific supplements for natural mood support are going to help you or your child. I can do that testing by looking at the specific chemicals in the brain through organic acids testing.
💊 B Vitamins
B vitamins are needed for many enzymes in the body and brain to work—including enzymes that produce serotonin and other neurotransmitters (your happy, calm brain chemicals)! Your body needs a balance of B vitamins, which you can get in a B Complex or multivitamin. If your body isn't absorbing B vitamins well, or you are on medications that reduce absorption of B-vitamins (like birth control pills) this could be part of the problem, and why mood is low. It's important to do functional medicine testing like Metabolomix to take a look at your or your child's B vitamins. I cannot overstate the importance of this supplement for natural mood support.
💊 Omega-3s
Omega-3s are essential fatty acids that are concentrated in fatty fish, nuts, and seeds. They support healthy inflammatory pathways and have been shown in studies to support mood! Why is that? It's because there the outer coverings of nerve cells in the brain are literally made out of fat (lipids). And we want your membranes to be made out of the good sort of fat from omega-3s. That way your brain can transmit signals to other brain cells and to your body well, AND make neurotransmitters well (the happy calm brain chemicals.). Just know it can take at least 10 weeks for this supplement for natural mood support to start helping. So stick with it!
Conclusion
There are many other supplements that your or your child's body may need for mental wellbeing. The only way to know is to test. I've seen people spend literally hundreds if not thousands of dollars on supplements that don't work. Why is that? It's because they are throwing spagetti at the wall and seeing what sticks. It's impossible to tell form just looking at a child what they might be either deficient in or in excess of. I recommend, don't just guess, test.
When you're ready here's how Dr. Ellie can help:
When your child, teen or young adult child is grappling with focus issues, gut issues, skin issues, menstrual issues, hyperactivity, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, or perfectionism you know they are suffering. Tummy and headaches, getting sick a lot, trouble in school, and feeling run down take a toll on your child and on you.
You want to help the ones you love ease their suffering and alleviate their symptoms by
addressing their underlying medical conditions without going straight to adding pharmaceutical medications that can come with their own set of adverse side effects and complications.
As a holistic pediatrician, I uncover and treat the underlying root causes of symptoms while working to reduce the need for medications so they can get back to being a kid and reclaim their childhood joy.
With advanced diagnostic testing and a personalized treatment program I take a thoughtful, thorough, and caring medical approach to address your child’s health. We will address genetic factors, diet, gut health, lifestyle as I walk hand in hand with you and your child toward sustainable well being, resilience, and joy.
Work with Dr. Ellie for functional consulting
For more information on holistic health check out my other posts:
Dr. Ellie MacGregor is a holistic integrative and functional medicine pediatrician who specializes in the treatment of celiac disease, food allergies, ADHD, anxiety, depression, gut issues, eczema, and other recurring symptoms using a blend the best of conventional and alternative therapies to prioritize your child's health.. She is the owner of Middle Path Integrative Pediatrics with over 14 years of experience. Dr. Ellie MacGregor helps readers separate fact from spin to make informed decisions about their health and the health of their children.
Get Dr. Ellie’s Guide to Whole Child Health for more information or view her website to get in touch.
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