Beat Depression with These Good Mood Foods

By: Graeme Lanham

From time to time, we all suffer from stress and anxiety, even depression. It may be work related, family problems or financial concerns. The stress caused by these worries can lead to health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, stroke and even obesity. Then we start to stress over our health problems. It's a vicious circle.

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS, BE CAREFUL.
All antidepressants work by manipulating the brain's use of serotonin, the chemical largely responsible for your mood. A study published in the British Medical Journal shows that the use of antidepressants can increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding for people over 65. And the newer types of antidepressants, called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors {SSRIs} are the worst offenders. These drugs can also cause nausea, headache, dry mouth, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and tremors.

YOUR OPTIONS.

These prescription drugs are NOT the only option for dealing with stress and depression. Studies have found that people respond just as well to natural therapies without the toxic side effects. According to Dr Michael Rosenbaum, author of "Energy For Life", a B complex supplement, along with vitamin C can make a big difference. He also recommends St John's Wort. Beware however of drug interactions with this herb. It can be effective for mild depression, but should NEVER be taken if you are on warfarin therapy or taking SSRIs. As with all changes in diet, you should FIRST discuss it with your family doctor.

HERE ARE SOME OTHER SUGGESTIONS.

OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS.

For a long time we've known that fish is healthy for you, but American nutritionist Joseph Hibbeln, claims that a fish diet can dramatically improve your state of mind, even cure depression. Mr Hibbeln, from the US National Institutes of Health, says the Omega 3 fats in fish influence our state of mind by altering one of our brain's key chemical messengers, serotonin. Lack of it is thought to be the cause of depression. His studies are confirmed by research at Harvard Medical School. Deep sea fish such as tuna, swordfish and salmon are 3
sources of Omega 3 fatty acids.

SEROTONIN RICH FOODS AND SUPPLEMENTS.

Other sources of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that helps to improve our sense of wellbeing, include: vitamin D { cod liver oil and sunshine}, sunflower seeds, bananas, turkey, avocados, mangoes, broccoli, almonds, vitamin B6 and the mineral magnesium. Camomile is a herb rich in magnesium and chamomile tea can be effective as a bedtime "relaxant". These "mood foods" are required to convert the amino acid tryptophan to serotonin.

KOREAN {PANAX} GINSENG.

Ginseng is a tonic herb renowned for its benefit in helping the body "adapt" to stress. As a balancer of body energies, it helps to relax and relieve stress as well as promote stamina.

VITAMIN B9 {FOLATE OR FOLIC ACID}

Studies with those suffering mild and major depression have shown low blood concentrations of the B vitamin nutrient folate. Sources of folate include: liver, asparagus, lentils, chick peas, beans, spinach and other leafy green vegetables.

SAMe

One of the most exciting breakthroughs in natural approaches to treating depression is SAMe. Naturally produced in the human body, it has largest concentrations in the liver, followed by the adrenal glands, heart, kidneys, lungs and brain. Healthy people naturally produce sufficient SAMe, but a deficiency in the blood can result in depression.

SAMe helps increase the blood levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, encouraging the brain cells to be more responsive to these "feel good" chemicals. This helps promote focus, concentration, calmness and mood elevation. It is also a liver tonic and may assist with arthritis pain. When taken as a supplement, make sure it includes the key nutrients vitamin B12 and folic acid to optimize natural SAMe production.

Never start a new treatment before consulting your doctor, especially if you are currently taking medication. The information published in this article is not intended as a substitute for personal medical advice from your physician or other qualified health-care practitioner. It is for information purposes only.

Seaweed - Mother Nature's Health Miracle

By Jean Shaw

Have you ever given any thought to seaweed?

For the majority of people seaweed conjures up an image of a smelly, green or brown, unpalatable tough weed washed up on a shoreline somewhere. Alternatively, it could be that dried stuff you get in sushi bars or Japanese and Chinese restaurants. Very few people realise the health benefits of seaweed and just how versatile it really is.

Described as "perfectly balanced natural food" certain seaweeds, like certain land plants have been used for centuries by different cultures for medicinal and nutritional purposes, fertilisers and even to awaken sexual desire.

Seaweed has been confirmed as one of Nature's "all- round pharmaceutical miracles" with claims that it can accomplish everything from warding off and treating
several types of cancer, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, thin the blood, prevent ulcers, kill bacteria and even cure constipation.

It's not just the Japanese who have appreciated the health benefits from daily consumption of seaweed either as there are reports of people living high in the Andes consuming it on a regular basis. Both cultures are renowned for their hardiness but just why is this natural vitamin supplement so good for us? The answer is the ocean.

For millions of years minerals and nutrients have been draining from the land into the sea and it is more or less a constant chemical medium.

The ocean contains the same minerals and trace elements as human blood and these are integrated into the living tissue of seaweed. As the seaweed is organic (easily broken down) and the natural vitamins, foundation minerals and vital nutrients are in such an assimilable form, this wonderful sea vegetable is of huge nutritional benefit and really is a natural whole food vitamin supplement.

For example, it has been estimated that certain seaweeds are up to 30 times higher in minerals than land food, which is affected by depleted nutrient levels in our soils.

Many people are understandably concerned about consuming produce from the oceans these days because of media reports of pollution, but this issue is widely misunderstood. Generally the ocean is a far less polluted growing medium than land soil especially farm soil because of the widespread use of pesticides, insecticides and fertilisers as well as airborne industrial pollutants.

Some seaweeds, particularly certain varieties of wrack have been the subject of scientific study over many years in connection with specific medical conditions where they have been found not only to have therapeutic value, but are a powerful nutritional component in a wide range of treatments.

For several years seaweed has been used as part of the protocol for detoxification in mercury amalgam extraction and may prove helpful where there is evidence of mineral imbalance and thyroid disorders.

The thyroid gland directly affects metabolism and regulates many other bodily functions. It requires iodine to operate smoothly and seaweed is a rich source.

In ancient Egypt seaweed was used as a treatment for patients with breast cancer but the modern use of chemo and radiation therapy makes the health benefit of seaweed far more evident because it provides a natural detox.

Seaweed has no significant fat and contains a high level of the rare antioxidant, selenium, making it exceptional value in candida treatment.

Cholesterol, blood pressure, heart disease are all familiar medical conditions in our modern society and a link has often been made to high salt intake. Very small amounts of whole salt, ideally in the form of seaweed have been shown to be an antidote to excess sodium consumption.

Also, seaweed can prove beneficial for bronchitis and other respiratory infections as it is a natural multivitamin containing soothing, mucilaginous gels which specifically rejuvinate the lungs and gastrointestinal tract.

Another problem seaweed can assist with is helping the body to maintain the acid/alkaline balance in blood, lymph and cells. Modern diet tends to favour carbohydrates, protein and fats, which can all become surplus acid deposits if our bodies do not have the means to fully metabolise them. Often this produces food allergy and intolerances, with acid build up in the system which is a cause of heartburn, indigestion, and ulcers. Seaweed can neutralise these acids so they can be safely eliminated and help restore balance.

Seaweed has been described as "the most nutritious form of vegetation on this planet", so the next time you spot some on the sea shore remember it is far more than a smelly weed!