Lifting Droopy Spirits

By Gina Goad

After having recently returned from a vacation in the Dominican Republic I thought for sure that our dreary winter rain/snow weather might have a slight dampening effect on my moods. Luckily not so but many people both children and adult alike especially at this time of the year start to feel more down or depressed than usual.

Currently the World Health Organization has stated that "clinical depression is currently the leading cause of disability in North America.. and is expected to become the second leading cause of disability worldwide (after heart disease) by the year 2020." Wow.... that seems a very powerful statement so how do we stay "up" when things around us seem so "down"? Depression is a clinically diagnosable psychological condition which only a medical doctor can diagnose, no specific cause(s) have been identified and it cannot be tested for in the lab directly like we can for heart disease. Many criteria exist and when a certain number are met for more than 2 weeks, a general diagnosis of clinical depression can be made.

This is different than the occasional but justifiable times where we are down about something such as a family death, job loss, accidents etc. Some factors that contribute to depression include physiology, weather, psychological, life experiences, medical conditions, diet, alcohol, drugs and living with depressed persons. So here's some info for direction and guidance in a preventative role.

Physiological factors include brain chemicals and neurotransmitters whose role it is to transmit messages throughout the body regulating every bodily function. When transmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrin become low, depression may set in. The medical world resorts to antidepressant drugs that reduce the rate at which the natural transmitters are broken down (e.g. SSRI's). What they do not address is why the levels of these crucial natural chemicals are low in the first place.

Serotonin is a hormone that elevates mood in the human body and is involved in the same cycle melatonin is produced in. Melatonin regulates sleep patterns and we know sleep deprivation contributes negatively to other existing medical conditions including depression. From a natural stand point the addition of L-tyrosine (pre epinephrine, norepinephrin and dopamine component), 5-HTP, choline & inositol and herbs such as St-John's wort help to increase the levels of these crucial hormones. Dietary considerations include eating foods high in tryptophan (contra in PKU) such as turkey, fish, meat, algae, wheat germ, green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, ham, milk, cheese, cottage cheese, brown rice, and sesame seeds. Lithium, a mineral which in deficiency has been linked to bipolar disorder, is medically prescribed for this condition as it has been proven to increase serotonin levels. Lithium sources include liquid trace mineral supplements, mineral springs and kelp.

Prolonged, dreary, cold and wet weather can often bring us down so if a trip down south isn't happening try going up to Mt Washington, rise above it all, revel in the direct sunlight and breathe in some good clean air! The conversion of inactive to active Vitamin D3 occurs in the presence of sunlight and medical research indicates that almost everybody can take 10,000IU of Vitamin D3 daily. Using light therapy (especially blue light) or replacing some of your house bulbs with full spectrum bulbs would be helpful.

One of the biggest dietary deficiencies is the Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish and many supplements. They act to insulate the nerve fibers to improve nerve conductivity, reduce inflammation, reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and assist normal growth. The biggest plus in using diet and natural supplements is that there are often no side effects and are presented to the body in forms that the body can both recognize and use.

Lifestyle, which includes diet, exercise and down time for self, IS the single most important element in any health condition more so than genetics! All health conditions including depression have a basis in nutritional deficiencies which are further aggravated by the long term use of alcohol and drugs. When medical biofeedback is used to identify one's specific deficiencies in vitamins, enzymes, hormones and minerals as well as glandular dysfunction, then it is also applied to choose the most appropriate treatment protocol for the specific needs of the individual.

May you enjoy the New Year in Health and Happiness!