Sep 30, 2020 | Everyday Wellness
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America tell us that more than 40 million Americans currently suffer from depression. We hope you are not included in that number! We have learned, however, that conditions like diabetes can make depression worse. If you feel that you might be suffering from depression, natural interventions can help, and we want to share some with. All the prescribed pharmaceutical drugs have toxic side effects, so let’s try to avoid them. Anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids help reduce chronic inflammation, which is a contributor to depression. You can boost your diet with flax seeds, nuts, and cold-water fatty fish like salmon and sardines. Even better, natural health experts suggest taking about 1,000 mg a day of omega-3-rich fish oil. Essential B vitamins produce “chemical messengers” known as neurotransmitters. One of these, serotonin, is essential for stable mood and restful sleep. Deficiencies can lead to mood disorders…
Sep 30, 2020 | Everyday Wellness
The Lancet Commission reports that dementia cases can be prevented or delayed by 40 percent with certain lifestyle changes, including midlife obesity, excessive alcohol intake, exposure to air pollution, depression, social isolation, high blood pressure, smoking, and a lack of physical activity. These are all things we can do something about, aren’t they? The Lancet Commission’s findings lead to a list of healthy behaviors and choices we can employ to reduce the risk of developing dementia. These are long-term lifestyle changes. Eating a healthy diet for only a month or exercising for only a few weeks will not significantly affect overall brain function. Dementia typically appears in one’s sixties or seventies, although it’s been known to arise as early as one’s thirties. Likewise, many of us become Type 2 diabetics in those same age ranges, don’t we? Changing an unhealthy lifestyle at any age is helpful in reducing the risk…
Sep 30, 2020 | Everyday Wellness
We all know two things for sure: (1) Sunlight makes our body product Vitamin D; and (2) too much sunlight is bad for us and might cause cancer. Haven’t we all heard that many times? But wait! Recent evidence suggests that sunlight may improve immune by boosting infection–fighting immune cells and discouraging the spread of pathogens in hospitals. A 2018 study, revised July 2020, indicates that sunlight exposure may have immunomodulatory effects and protect against infections, including acute respiratory infections such as influenza. It’s a long article, but well worth the read. You can download or just read a pdf format of the article at https://www.nber.org/papers/w24340. In addition, believe it or not, studies have shown that high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposures are associated with lowered rates of allergies, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. While often acknowledged that these results are from increased vitamin D, researchers find that exposure…
