adminAccording to research, up to 25 percent of your total cholesterol is found in the brain. Cholesterol is critical for proper brain function including the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
Serotonin levels are extremely low in individuals suffering from depression, suicidal thoughts and extreme violence. Serotonin is a key messenger that creates an anti-depressant effect in the brain, it makes you happy.
A low cholesterol level decreases serotonin-receptor activity thus producing depression. Two hundred and thirty million prescriptions are now filled for depression every year. Antidepressants are one of the most-prescribed drugs.
People have been lied to about the effects of lowering one’s cholesterol. Artificially lowering cholesterol with statin medication can cause damage to cell membranes and increases the risk of death. A
recent clinical trial on statin medications showed a three-fold increase in suicide in the lowest cholesterol group.
According to the Framingham Study: “There is a direct association between falling cholesterol levels over the first 14 years and mortality over the following 18 years.” It is also now estimated that we spend up to US$44 billion on depression every year.
It is popular belief in medicine that Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce your cholesterol. Omega-3 fatty acids aid in normalising your cholesterol through eliminating the effects of inflammation. Inflammation and the oxidation of cholesterol have been found to damage brain tissues thus producing depression, suicidal thoughts and extreme violence.
Research over the last two decades has shown that people with cardiovascular disease are more likely to suffer from depression than otherwise healthy people. The reverse is also been found to be true, people with depression are at greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
The National Institute of Mental Health states that “people with heart disease who are depressed have an increased risk of death after a heart attack compared to those who are not depressed”.
Cardiovascular disease now affects over 12 million people and is classified as one of the leading causes of death. The depression incident rates skyrockets to one in two for people who have survived their first heart attack according to the institute.
Depression and anxiety can result in heightened levels of stress hormones called cortisol and adrenaline. The elevated levels signal an alteration and damages the type of tissue healing needed for muscle tissue repair, especially the heart.
A recent study which involved 80 adults aged 20 to 45 years who were diagnosed with moderate depression were able to cut their symptoms nearly in half with exercise alone. Exercise performed three to five times per week has immediate effects on your mood and brain health according to the study.
The proper balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 has now been considered to be the most important nutrient to battle cardiovascular disease and depression. Omega-3 deficiency can also decrease normal blood flow to numerous regions of the brain. The ideal balance of Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids has been found to be in a 2:1 ratio.
New Year Resolutions
If we are looking for a positive change in our health in 2012, we need to take the correct steps. Heart disease, high blood pressure, weight gain, high cholesterol and diabetes are becoming rampant.
These conditions are not only affecting us, but also our children.
The common solution involves medications, but are the conditions mentioned above a lack of medication? Why at one point in your life you did not have the condition and another you do? Is it because of ageing, poor genetics or bad luck? The good news is it’s not!
Our lifestyle factors are the number one criterion in determining our health on a day-to-day basis. The food that we eat, the water that we drink, the physical activity we perform, the amount of sleep we get and the amount of stress we have all impact our health.
The better these factors are in your life, the better your health will be. Lifestyle factors improve how our bodies are able to heal and function. As we age, our bodies generally deteriorate. This is not normal, however. This is indicative that the effects of negative lifestyle factors are starting to accumulate and cause the deterioration in your health over time.
Over time the condition and our response to negative lifestyle factors are diminished. If our bodies cannot handle the amount of stress or negative lifestyle factors, we get sick, ill and diseased.
When you were 20 years old, you may not have been overweight, have high blood pressure and other negative health conditions. Twenty years later, you have all of the conditions. The only difference is time, with the same lifestyle.
Time cannot be reversed or changed, but you can change the lifestyle factors that you do on a daily basis. Health is never about being perfect; it is about constant, continual improvement over time.
If you have not exercised before, or need to re-commit exercise into your life; let’s start. The time is now! If you are looking to lose weight, eliminate medications, and become healthier over time; the choice is yours! You can make a change in your life, but only if you choose to change and improve. I cannot change your diet or get you in shape for you.
The holiday season is either the happiest or most depressing time of the year. Depression is a serious condition that can harm you and everyone around you. If you treat that condition with medications, the medications do not work. Heart disease, brain damage and other complicating conditions arise from not correcting the underlying problem; life- style.
Let’s make 2012 the best year of your life. Let’s do it together!
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to become a better resource for people around the world. I will be placing additional free information on my website and strongly encourage you to email any questions, concerns or future topics. 2012 is a New Year for a New You!
www.drhealthshow.com
The website is a resource for you to be able to get additional information on all topics discussed. There are additional newsletters, audios, nutrition and fitness tips available. Recipes are also now available. I will be placing sample exercise plans on the website prior to the New Year.
Changing Mindsets, Changing Lives.
l The column is not meant to give or replace valuable medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is designed for educational purposes. If you have questions or would like to request a future topic, email [email protected]
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