I had never tasted kale until this past year. I bought what I thought was two bags of frozen chopped spinach but one ended up being a bag of chopped kale. So I mixed half spinach and half kale and cooked them in a little butter and bacon bits, added some sea salt and pepper and it was delicious. I haven't tried fresh kale but since I liked the frozen one I figured fresh would be good too.
I do not wish to disparage anyone but people who use supplemental vitamin K do run a risk of a higher blood pressure due to the thickening of blood. For instance, it’s used in emergency situations when people overdose on blood thinners or for people with thin blood who are going to undergo surgery. One doctor wanted me on K but found that my blood clots extremely fast so he had to back up a bit. One thing I do see so far is that you folks are trying to incorporate it by diet rather than mass supplementation which is harder and at the bottom line, risky. My wife does the green smoothie thing with kale which as of yet, I have not gotten past the looks of it even though I know it’s probably a real healthy choice. The looks of it are actually a little depressing so anyone who wishes to have my portion of kale is more than welcome to it but I do admit, it does make a plate presentation look tasty.
All kale is not alike, Ken. Italian-type kale is much different than that from northern Europe. Try Lacinato (Dinosaur) kale if you have not tried it. If you like any cooked green, you will probably like it.
All vitamin K is not alike, either. There are two known types of vitamin K, K-1 and K-2. K-1 is mainly involved in clotting and is the vitamin that is "compromised" by the drug Warfarin (Coumadin, Dicoumarol, etc.) Vitamin K-2 has the additional function of helping to regulate Calcium distribution in the body. According to what I have read, the body redistributes Calcium while we sleep. In vitamin K-2 deficiency, the mineral is not distributed properly. I think the natural sources are similar, but if you supplement, try the K-2 as K-1 is manufactured in the colon by normal flora there...if the biome is healthy. I don't think much formal research has been done with depression and B vitamins, but there is TONS of anecdotal stuff. I myself found that during the dark periods of winter, B-100 tablets make my outlook brighter. Normal B complex doesn't work, and I haven't tried the Stress-Tab formulation. I used to get very grouchy during the winter here, and I found that the B-100 made life better. I suspect that it is the concentration of B-6 (Pyridoxine) that makes the difference, but I have not been able to prove it. If you have those troubles and take a B-complex, try the B-100 formulation and see if it is better. If you are on meds, it is best to consult with a Doc or pharmacist as some drugs are B inhibitors, and if you take B vitamins, you may inactivate the medication.
If you are taking any prescription drugs you should always make sure something you want to supplement with is not going to be dangerous mixed with your prescriptions. My body needed those Vitamin K shots but my Doctor rechecked the levels until we had mine balanced and then I did not take anymore but ate the foods that gave me that Vitamin naturally. It is always best when you can get your vitamins and minerals, etc. from their natural sources. With depression there are lots of natural ways you can help lift it too...and that definitely would be better than taking antidepressants which can cause some serious side effects...but which also can be of help when nothing else works.
I would dearly love to see Ken’s joy filled face as he polishes off a kale based green smoothie! Matter of fact, a picture of that sort could be a sort of panacea when one or more of our members are depressed. Instead of popping a pill, it would be prescribed as visual therapy!
I don't care for Kale, but it does not depress me. For 10 long years and it came on after menopause I lived with "clinical" depression and went to so many MD's for test after test and for what I believed was thyroid. My numbers all came back "you are fine"....we are NOT numbers, we are symptoms. And doctors miss so much with the thyroid...wrong med and wrong doses. Then finally after talking to my good ole D.O. he knew, he called in for desiccated thyroid support, low dose theraputic dose to start with, and depression lifted in 4 days. Yep... He did no labs and went with the symptoms theories..There are some 66 symptoms from a sluggish/low thyroid function. Old time docs knew, but the recent medical docs are so brainwashed with numbers. This whole 10 years was in 1991 to 2002 and I was early 50's and finally got thyroid supported at 63....10 ugly years of anti depression drugs that did nothing good for me...it was thyroid. Since then for sure, I question all doctors. Then there is situational depression, the ups and downs of life...they come and go and have for me in my life. Then at a point in 2006, I was feeling a lowness and it was Vid D deficiency, got that fixed and take Vit D3 daily.
Speaking only for my self I must say that the same technology that could be the causative factor of depression for some people is the same technology that keeps depression from my door step.
I'm a social person, I talk to strangers in the market, in waiting rooms, you name it and these days everyone has their faces/noses in their machines. I think of recent times when I've been in waiting rooms of auto shop, docs office and that's what comes to mind now, I'm the ONLY ONE who does not have their iphone out and deeply absorbed in their machines. Not me, as I never went there for starters and what can one being doing on those machines so so much of their days? I guess just don't care to talk to others. And especially those they don't know....makes me a little sad but doesn't depress me, just have to learn to accept this. And I do, can't change what is now and that's for sure.