Tag: depression

Posted on

Foods You shall Eat Every Day to Beat Depression

Adding the right produce, nuts, and seeds to our diet is our top strategy for good mental health. Fresh produce like kale, berries, and mushrooms can curb symptoms of depression.

Among all the strategies to safeguard my mental health, eating the right foods ties for first (with getting adequate sleep) as the most important. Recently I did some substantial research on which foods promote sanity and which ones send an alarm to your limbic system (emotion center) and cause inflammation. I decided to eliminate gluten, dairy, caffeine, and sugar from my diet. I also started eating fresh produce throughout my day and made the commitment to hit the grocery store a few times a week.

As a result, I feel more emotionally resilient and less vulnerable to the impact of stress and drama on my mood.

1. Dark Leafy Greens: A Nutrient-Dense Inflammation Fighter

If you were to choose the healthiest food of all, the most nutrient-dense item available to us to eat, it would be dark, leafy greens, no contest. Spinach. Kale. Swiss chard. Greens are the first of the G-BOMBS (greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries, seeds) that Joel Fuhrman, MD, describes in his book The End of Dieting — the foods with the most powerful immune-boosting and anticancer effects.

“These foods help prevent the cancerous transformation of normal cells and keep the body armed and ready to attack any precancerous or cancerous cells that may arise,” he writes. Leafy greens fight against all kinds of inflammation, and according to a study published in March 2015 in JAMA Psychiatry, severe depression has been linked with brain inflammation. Leafy greens are especially important because they contain oodles of vitamins A, C, E, and K, minerals, and phytochemicals. NutriaPlus can be the right product too.

2. Walnuts: Rich in Mood-Boosting Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Walnuts are one of the richest plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and numerous studies have demonstrated how omega-3 fatty acids support brain function and reduce depression symptoms. A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry is especially interesting. The lead authors ask the question, Why is the vast part biological research — from genetics to psychopharmacology — concentrated on neurotransmitters, when the mammalian brain is approximately 80 percent fat (lipids), and there is a growing body of research demonstrating the critical role of lipids in brain functioning? What’s more, the shift in the Western diet away from these necessary omega-3 fatty acids over the last century parallels the large rise in psychiatric disorders in that time.

3. Avocado: Its Oleic Acid Gives You Brainpower

You can eat a whole one every day in my salad for lunch. Avocados are power foods because, again, they contain healthy fat that your brain needs in order to run smoothly. Three-fourths of the calories of an avocado are from fat, mostly monounsaturated fat, in the form of oleic acid. An average avocado also contains 4 grams of protein, higher than other fruits, and is filled with vitamin K, different kinds of vitamin B (B9, B6, and B5), vitamin C, and vitamin E12. Finally, they are low in sugar and high in dietary fiber, containing about 11 grams each.

4. Berries: Full of Cell-Repairing Antioxidants

Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries are some of the highest antioxidant foods available to us. I try to have a variety for breakfast in the morning. In a study published in the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, patients were treated for two years with antioxidants or placebos. After two years those who were treated with antioxidants had a significantly lower depression score. Antioxidants are like DNA repairmen. They go around fixing your cells and preventing them from getting cancer and other illnesses.

5. Mushrooms: Helpful Tools to Lower Blood Sugar

Here are two good reasons why mushrooms are good for your mental health. First, their chemical properties oppose insulin, which helps lower blood sugar levels, evening out your mood. They also are like a probiotic in that they promote healthy gut bacteria. And since the nerve cells in our gut manufacture 80 to 90 percent of our body’s serotonin — the critical neurotransmitter that keeps us sane — we can’t afford to not pay attention to our intestinal health.

6. Onions: Layered With Cancer-Fighting Allium

You won’t find this item on most lists of mood foods. However, it’s included in Dr. Fuhrman’s G-BOMBS because onions and all allium vegetables (garlic, leeks, chives, shallots, and spring onions) have been associated with a decreased risk of several cancers.

“Eating onions and garlic frequently is associated with a reduced risk of cancers of the digestive tract,” explains Fuhrman. “These vegetables also contain high concentrations of anti-inflammatory flavonoid antioxidants that contribute to their anticancer properties.” Again, if you consider the relationship between your digestive tract and your brain, it is understandable why a food that can prevent cancers of the gut would also benefit your mood.

7. Tomatoes: Packed With Depression Fighters

You can try to eat at least six baby tomatoes in my salad each day for lunch because tomatoes contain lots of folic acid and alpha-lipoic acid, both of which are good for fighting depression. According to research published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, many studies show an elevated incidence of folate deficiency in patients with depression. In most of the studies, about one-third of depression patients were deficient in folate.

Folic acid can prevent an excess of homocysteine — which restricts the production of important neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine — from forming in the body. Alpha-lipoic acid keeps coming up as I read more about nutrition and the brain, so I have begun to take it as a supplement, as well. It helps the body convert glucose into energy, and therefore stabilizes mood.

8. Beans: Satisfyingly High in Mood-Stabilizing Fiber

“Beans, beans, good for the heart. The more you eat, the more you … smile.” They make the G-BOMB list because they can act as anti-diabetes and weight-loss foods. They are good for my mood because my body (and every body) digests them slowly, which stabilizes blood sugar levels. Any food that assists me in evening out my blood sugar levels is my friend. They are the one starch that I allow myself, so on top of a salad, they help mitigate my craving for bread and other processed grains. You can try the dietary fiber or Lifestyles FiberLife.

9. Seeds: Small but Mighty Sources of Omega-3s

When I’m close to reaching for potato chips or any kind of comfort food, I allow myself a few handfuls of sunflower seeds or any other kind of seed I can find in our kitchen. Seeds are the last food on Fuhrman’s G-BOMBS list.

Flaxseeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds are especially good for your mood because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Fuhrman writes, “Not only do seeds add their own spectrum of unique disease-fighting substances to the dietary landscape, but the fat in seeds increases the absorption of protective nutrients in vegetables eaten at the same meal.”

10. Apples: Ripe With Antioxidants and Fiber

An apple a day could — if eaten with the rest of these foods — keep the psychiatrist away, at least for stretches of time. Like berries, apples are high in antioxidants, which can help to prevent and repair oxidation damage and inflammation on the cellular level. They are also full of soluble fiber, which balances blood sugar swings. A snack I have grown to love is almond butter on apple slices. I get my omega-3 fatty acid along with some fiber.

Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.

Source: everydayhealth.com

Posted on

How to Overpower With Anxiety and Depression

Many people with anxiety disorders understand that their thoughts are irrational, but they still can’t  stop them.Anxiety disorders are often linked to depression. It’s important that both conditions are treated simultaneously.

People with anxiety disorders — social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder — or phobias spend most of their lives in an agitated state. After a while, that can take a huge emotional toll, and depression often sets in. There’s no conclusive explanation as to why anxiety and depression so often co-exist, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, but you can find relief from both with the right treatment.

Why Anxiety Leads to Depression

Anxiety disorders are much more than just nervousness and worrying. They can cause terrifying fear about things that other people wouldn’t give a second thought to.

“It’s a cycle,” says Sally R. Connolly, LCSW, a therapist at Couples Counseling of Louisville in Kentucky. “When you get anxious, you tend to have this pervasive thinking about some worry or some problem and you feel bad about it. Then you feel like you’ve failed, and you move to depression.”

The two conditions have a complicated relationship:

  • The incidence of developing depression in addition to an anxiety disorder is high — almost half of all people with major depression also suffer from severe and persistent anxiety, Connolly notes.
  • “People who are depressed often feel anxious and worried, so one can trigger the other,” she says. “Anxiety often comes before depression.”
  • There may be a biological predisposition to both depression and other anxiety disorders.
  • People who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder, are particularly likely to also develop depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

“Especially with anxiety, more so than depression, there often is some family history, and so therefore we think that there may be some genetic predisposition to this,” Connolly explains. “Some people are just worriers and pass it down.”

Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression

These are signs that a person may suffer from both anxiety disorder and depression:

  • Constant, irrational fear and worry
  • Physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, fatigue, headaches, hot flashes, sweating, abdominal pain, and difficulty breathing
  • Insomnia
  • Changes in eating, either too much or too little
  • Difficulty with memory, decision making, and concentration
  • Constant feelings of sadness or worthlessness
  • Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
  • Feeling tired and cranky
  • Inability to relax
  • Panic attacks

The Road to Recovery

Both anxiety and depression should be treated together. Effective treatment strategies include:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is often used to treat anxiety disorder with depression. CBT can teach people to manage their fears, anxieties, and depressive symptoms by figuring out what’s really causing them; people also learn how to take control of their emotions.
  • Antidepressant medications, which may be prescribed to help treat both conditions. These drugs are often used in conjunction with CBT. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are newer, commonly used antidepressants that offer fewer side effects than older antidepressants, according to the NIMH.
  • Exercise, which can also help both depression and anxiety disorders. Exercisereleases chemicals in the body that make you feel good, and it can help you relax. Taking just a 10-minute walk may alleviate symptoms for several hours, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America states.
  • Relaxation techniques, which include practicing meditation and mindfulness. Both can ease symptoms of both anxiety and depression and improve your quality of life, according to a large research review published in the March 2014 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.
  • Organizations offering mental health services, which can include a hospital or support group in your community. Check out the National Institute of Mental Health or the Anxiety and Depression Association of America for more resources.

Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Loved ones of those struggling with anxiety and depression should be on the lookout for these warning signs of a mental health crisis:

  • Poor daily self-care, such as refusing to perform personal hygiene habits, get out of bed, or eat
  • Sudden and extreme changes in mood
  • Becoming violent, threatening, or aggressive
  • Abusing substances
  • Appearing confused or having hallucinations
  • Talking about suicide or about not having a reason to live

Treatment for anxiety disorders and depression needs to be administered and managed by a psychiatrist, Connolly says. “It’s really crucial for people with both [anxiety and depression] to have a good assessment to rule out bipolar disorder,” she says. Bipolar disorder, a condition in which emotions can swing from very low to very high levels of mania and depression, is treated much differently than anxiety disorder with depression.

No one has to suffer from anxiety disorder or depression, and certainly not both. People with anxiety disorder should speak with a psychiatrist, therapist, or other healthcare professional about their symptoms, and start treatment before depression has a chance to set in.

Read more about Foods You shall Eat Every Day to Beat Depression

Source: Everydayhealth.com, Google.com

Posted on

What essentially influences our health

We live in an industrially polluted environment, enclosed by many negative emotions, under permanent stress, often maintaining a low-quality diet and having a lack of movement. Our life focuses on success and performance, which have become the main values of today’s consumer society. We ringed ourselves with comfort and want to have a better and better life. However, all this comes at a price – the number of the ill.

Diseases of civilisation, for example allergies, asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, weak bowels, chronic constipation, digestive problems, ,diabetes, headaches, impotence, menstrual pain, high blood pressure, high level of cholesterol, depression and various other , are the aftereffect of our modern lifestyle.

We continually receive toxic substances from air, food and beverages. We use more and more drugs; we smoke and drink alcohol. All the toxic items we receive impair our body’s balance and weaken our immune system. Likevise mental stress, these toxic material also cause an increased production of free radicals in the human organism. If these are not exhaust from the organism, they become toxic, leading to the destruction of tissues after some time. It has been confirm that the cause of arthritis and heart diseases can be found in the destructive effect of free radicals on connective (joint), vascular and cardiac tissue.

These complications are often mitigated by prescription drugs or drugs we buy in pharmacies and health product shops. However, these drugs cause new problems due to their side effects. A few herbs, with their specific therapeutic characteristics, may help us as well. Still, like modern drugs may even be harmful to our body if we use them over a long time period. The reason is mostly low quality due to nontraditional and unclear sources.

How to maintain good health?

A body which has physiological equilibrium (YIN and YANG in balance) is a healthy body. Today’s medicine often talks about maintaining homeostasis in the body. Products of our modern lifestyle, such as negative emotions, stress, a polluted environment, lack of exercise, low-quality diet and excessive use of medicinal drugs, often disturb this equilibrium, causing illness. This condition requires even more drugs and we find ourselves in a vicious circle. How to get out of it?

In order to be healthy, we should make constant changes in our lifestyle:

  1. We should keep a proper (healthy) diet
  2. We should avoid excessive and uncontrolled use of medicinal drugs
  3. We should be physically and mentally active
  4. We should use medicinal drugs within reason
  5. We should use the right dietary supplements
  6. We should  drink enough quality water

We are using cookies on our website

Please confirm, if you accept our tracking cookies. You can also decline the tracking, so you can continue to visit our website without any data sent to third party services.