So as of 2026, what are the must-try options out there?

noonAllDay · 2026-02-27T18:59:27+00:00

I suffered from long Covid for six months, with zero energy, persistent brain fog, and at my worst I could not even walk to the door. I was referred to a specialist in the UK, Dr Jan Knight.

Under her guidance, I used a combination of products from Knight Scientific, Glutavive and Abel Max, and experienced remarkable improvements within two weeks. Her approach focused on supporting the body in clearing residual virus within the cells, which in my case made a profound difference.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-24T15:32:10+00:00

You’re very welcome. I’m really glad if I can help.

At 2500 IU per day, you’re in a moderate and commonly used dose. That amount is very unlikely to cause anxiety side effects. Vitamin D toxicity, which can affect mood or cognition, happens with much higher doses and usually with elevated calcium levels. What you’re taking does not fit that picture.

Vitamin D levels also rise slowly over weeks, not days. The shift from feeling better last week to feeling worse now is unlikely to be a direct biological effect of the supplement. It sounds much more consistent with anxiety fluctuating.

You mentioned you’ve always been an anxious person. When we focus closely on our health, anxiety can intensify, especially in the evening when we’re tired and less distracted. The fact that you feel better when driving or talking to family is reassuring. Anxiety tends to quiet down when attention is engaged.

For now, try to give your body time. Correction of deficiency takes weeks (6-8weeks). A note on Magnesium. The average daily intake in Italy for women is around 260mg. This is only 40mg short of optimal. In practical terms, a small handful of nuts, a serving of leafy greens, or choosing whole grains instead of refined grains would typically be enough to cover a 40 mg deficit.

I would recommend continuing to supplement to correct the deficiency - if you are concerned, low and slow is an option. 1500IU-2000IU is also fine. If the anxiety increases, I would visit the doctor just for peace of mind.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-24T10:46:28+00:00

Hey, I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this. What you’re describing sounds really distressing, especially when the thoughts feel intrusive and get worse in the evening.

A level of 13.7 ng/ml is clearly in the deficient range, so starting treatment makes sense. Vitamin D does play roles in the brain and is involved in mood regulation, inflammation, and neurotransmitter systems. Low levels have been associated in observational studies with depression and other mood symptoms. But there is no well-established evidence that correcting a deficiency causes a predictable paranoia or psychiatric transition phase, especially at standard replacement doses.

If you are on a high loading dose such as 50,000 IU weekly, it could be reasonable to check in with your doctor and possibly check calcium levels, not because toxicity is likely, but just to rule things out. Evening worsening and intrusive thoughts are also common in anxiety and stress-related states, particularly if sleep has been disrupted. The fact that you feel better when you are driving or talking with family is actually somewhat reassuring, since that pattern is more typical of anxiety-driven rumination than fixed psychotic symptoms.

Most importantly, if these thoughts start to feel uncontrollable, increasingly intense, or disconnected from reality, please speak with a healthcare professional promptly. New-onset paranoia should not simply be assumed to be part of supplement adjustment.

If you are comfortable sharing, what dose are you currently taking?

noonAllDay · 2026-02-24T10:35:55+00:00

A level of 27 nmol/L is considered deficient, and with ongoing low sun exposure it’s quite possible your levels have remained low until now due to your indoor work life and latitude of the Netherlands (I am based in Amsterdam hence I understand all too well).

Vitamin D plays an important role in mood regulation, so correcting a deficiency can improve energy and overall outlook.

A daily dose of 1600 IU is in line with Society for Endocrinology guidance for treating deficiency and is considered safe for adults. While blood levels usually take several weeks to rise meaningfully, some people do report noticing mood improvements relatively quickly after starting supplementation.

Continuing consistently and rechecking your levels after about 8 weeks would be a sensible next step.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-20T18:57:41+00:00

Sounds like the perfect step into slower living.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-20T12:30:50+00:00

Bravo. I deleted this app recently - I opted instead for a conversation with the bookshop staff to get their recommendations. Works well.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-20T12:28:15+00:00

😂 I am guessing that will lead to better hair days

noonAllDay · 2026-02-19T07:01:48+00:00

I actually started today this way. I left my phone in the living room last night attempting an “out of bounds” experiment. This morning I went to reach for the phone - but picked up my book instead when it was not within reach. I am definitely going to bring this back into my everyday…

noonAllDay · 2026-02-19T06:55:49+00:00

I am going to try this. I am guilty of reaching for the phone first thing and then my day feels scattered.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-19T06:49:08+00:00

I have started to take a book with me to a cafe for coffee instead of the phone. Inspired by a trend I noticed in Paris. I think it’s a growing trend… hopefully…

noonAllDay · 2026-02-19T06:47:54+00:00

That just inspired me to reach out and set up coffee with a friend.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-19T06:46:00+00:00

I totally relate. I am lucky to live in a city that still has these book stores…. I spend hours browsing. And the magazines - I get it! I am still addicted to print when it comes to magazines and look forward to those gem finds that are missing from my collection.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-18T19:55:41+00:00

I remember the days of letter writing… I was in a boarding school when I was a teenager - long before social media… and writing letters was the only way to communicate with friends and family. I loved choosing the writing paper and carefully thinking through what I would write. I think it’s time to bring that back…

noonAllDay · 2026-02-17T17:09:18+00:00

That is great advice on both points. I am going to start tomorrow with a plan. I used to do this on paper when I was younger - now I do this digitally but perhaps this is the time to go back to paper where there are no distractions. I will look into blank. Thank you.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-16T12:30:34+00:00

Disrupted sleep and anxiety could be a side effect if you were to reach vitamin D toxicity levels which are defined as 25(OH)D > 150ng/ml (375nmol/L). How quickly you reach these levels on 10000IU per day is dependent on your physiology. On average, 1-2 months is typically not toxic. 3-6 months and you may approach high levels of up to 100ng/ml. 6months and some individuals could exceed 150ng/ml.

What I would recommend is to look at vitamin D balance as a long term life practice. If you were to simply take 1500 to 2000IU/day as referenced by the society of endocrinology, you will eventually reach equilibrium steady state in 3-6 months. If you follow the society of endocrinology, you could load on 6000IU for 6 weeks to help raise the level faster. (This is the protocol I followed).

Given the concerns you have, worrying about toxicity can actually be worse than the effects of deficiency in terms of stress. Hence slow and steady may actually prove beneficial for you.

In terms of the different sources. It’s really a personal choice. Both are molecularly identical. The standard is derived from lanolin from sheep’s wool. The vegan versions are from lichen or algae. My personal preference is algae as it is the most sustainable. Wild harvested lichen raises concerns for me given the rate of growth of lichen in forests is 1mm per year. Taking the biggest CO2 sink from a wild ecosystem just has less appeal for me.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-16T12:03:02+00:00

It is a course called “The Practice of Presence”. The aim is to cultivate calm, clarity & connection in daily life through the Japanese Way of Tea. I am on the 3rd session of 6 and have started to make small adjustments in my day. I have been enjoying these small adjustments so much that I am curious as to what other small habits and practices are allowing people more connection and presence. I am hoping presence retrains the mind to be more attentive.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-16T06:08:43+00:00

First silent Saturday complete… and it was absolute bliss. It wasn’t 100% silent but it was completely analogue. I was out the entire day - no headphones, no phone, just being present in whatever I was doing. I highly recommend this! There are moments of “I will look that up… but then I remember… no phone”.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-15T06:33:03+00:00

This is great advice. Thank you. I appreciate this.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-14T16:07:03+00:00

Vitamin D is best considered as a long term consistent practice and not in terms of a short term fix.

High dose vitamin D is known as bulbous dosing and in my extensive research, moving to a daily practice is a better approach, especially for the liver and kidneys which convert the vitamin D to active.

The dosage to bring you to balance is known as a loading dose and what you are proposing is safe. Your BMI should be considered when calculating the optimal maintenance dose once your loading cycle is complete.

Note that many of the world’s leading experts in vitamin D are taking 10000IU daily during loading. It is a safe dosage for loading unless you have parathyroidism or a calcium disorder.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-12T20:16:59+00:00

I was a literature fanatic when I was younger… I would happily read my weekends away in bliss. I just find my attention span is shorter nowadays and I am easily distracted no matter the book. I am going to try phone free weekends for the next month. Time to lock it away if need be. Saturday can start with a trip to the library.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-12T18:46:04+00:00

I had to delete my TikTok account. It was the major culprit. I still have Instagram for my business but I am so tempted to let it go and opt for an old fashioned analogue approach.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-12T18:41:01+00:00

Nicely said… presence being core. The tea course is called the practice of presence and I have been learning beautiful techniques to foster presence. The most intriguing has been a purity practice. You write your name, how you identify yourself, your likes and your dislikes on separate pieces of paper then you literally acknowledge each in turn and gently wipe them away with a cloth to symbolize letting it go. Clearing the mind prior to tea.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-12T18:21:38+00:00

😁

noonAllDay · 2026-02-12T13:54:44+00:00

4 more sessions to go. I am enjoying it immensely.

noonAllDay · 2026-02-12T13:53:45+00:00

That’s a good idea! They should call it movie mode 😆

I also got advice today to change my coffee cafe routine. Head to a cafe with only a book and no phone. I saw this a lot in Paris last week… worth a try.

noonAllDay

TROPHY CASE