Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Studies have shown that the amount of sugar you consume can impact your mental health. This is incredibly true in the US, where the standard diet is overwhelmed by processed and sugary foods.
Many people who were sick with COVID-19 are still suffering from issues with cognition in a phenomenon known as long COVID. Learn about how you can help support your memory and mood in the face of these issues from Jerry Hickey, Ph.
depression
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
Subscribe Today!
One of the more alarming impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic was the rate in which antidepressants were prescribed. Factors such as COVID restrictions and social isolation caused mood health for many Americans to take a big hit. The exponential rate at which antidepressants and anxiolytics were prescribed in this country was incredibly alarming. This is very indicative of our collective state of mind and shows that our mood health is something that we should be looking at.†
A recent study published in the Molecular Psychiatry Journal talked about how omega-3 fatty acids can help to combat depression. Researchers were looking at the ability of omega-3 fatty acids from things such as fish oil to help protect the cells within the brain from programmed cell death. Fish oil is rich in EPA and DHA, which were shown to be beneficial.†
In 2015, there was a review in the Journal of Integrative Medicine Research that looked at all of the scientific evidence that was correlating the use of omega-3 fatty acids to supporting people with major depressive disorders, including those other psychiatric disorders. Researchers have shown that when they give omega-3 fatty acids to people who are depressed, the patients experienced significant shifts in their overall mood and behavior.†
The pandemic and the sense of insecurity attached to it led to greater levels of low mood, depression and anxiety. But why is everyone turning to antidepressants as opposed to looking at supplements like fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids? This is likely because people don’t talk about these nutrients enough.†
The consumption of omega-3 fatty acids in the Standard American Diet is next to none. This is significant because omega-3 fatty acids play a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity of the neurons in the brain and throughout the entire body. They can also help to ease inflammation and fend off oxidative stress.†
We know that omega-3 fatty acids are essential for existence and important metabolism within the body, so how can we ensure that we are getting more of these nutrients? We could try switching to the Mediterranean Diet. This diet is rich in fatty fish, which is a powerful source of omega-3 fatty acids. We can also supplement on a regular, daily basis with a supplement such as fish oil that provides the powerful fatty acids, DHA and EPA.†
In this episode, Amanda Williams, MPH discusses the increase in cases of depression during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. She details how omega-3 fatty acids can help support someone experiencing these issues and offers recommendations for how to include these nutrients in your diet and daily routine.†
Key Topics:
Thank you for tuning in to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at InViteⓇ Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.
Vitamin B6 Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH Subscribe Today! B vitamins play a really important role when it comes to supporting energy levels, metabolism, heart health, brain health and so many more systems that are crucial for the everyday functions of …
There have been a slew of scientific research studies looking at the implications of the stress and anxiety in just this month alone.
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
Subscribe Today!
What are the long-term impacts of stress and how can you manage your stress in a much more efficient way? So many people deal with stress on a daily basis. It can come in different forms and be caused by a variety of things. Let’s talk about what you can be doing to help mitigate its impact.
STRESS, ANXIETY AND YOUR BODY
In the United States alone, there are over 40 million adults who experience some form of anxiety. Anxiety disorders on a whole are highly treatable, yet only about a quarter of these people are actually receiving proper treatment or therapy to manage their anxiety. People with anxiety disorders are 3 to 5 times more likely to see a physician and 6 times more likely to be hospitalized for different psychiatric disorders. Anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of different risk factors, including brain chemistry, life events, and genetics. It is not uncommon for someone who has stress and anxiety to also suffer from issues such as depression. Panic disorders, social anxiety disorders, and generalized anxiety disorders are all very common. There are people who have specific phobias, as well as people who have issues with PTSD, OCD, depressive disorders, and depressive episodes. These issues activate internal stressors in the body, which can really impact our overall wellness. The occurrence of anxiety can also be heightened in people with certain health conditions. For example, people with irritable bowel syndrome, sleep disruption, insomnia, and fibromyalgia, amongst other medical issues, often experience a comorbid condition of anxiety.
MANAGING STRESS THROUGH COVID-19 – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 58 >>
Regardless of the cause, we have to know how to best manage the chronic stress that we can be under for years. Chronic stress can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which then impacts many important hormones in the body. For instance, their adrenal gland can be overrun, causing it to excrete excess cortisol. This can then affect the pancreas and insulin levels, as well as the blood sugar. Chronic stress can also impact focus, attention, and memory. This is why it is so imperative to learn to manage it.
HOW CAN YOU MANAGE YOUR ANXIETY AND STRESS
There are many ways to treat anxiety and stress, but oftentimes, they are not treated properly. I find that people frequently overlook food and how much it matters. I go back to the phrases “You are what you eat” and “Let food be thy medicine.” These statements hold so much truth. If someone is under stress and getting fast food as a time-saver, that’s probably not the best approach in terms of re-nourishing and supporting your body at a cellular level. We have to know that foods are first and foremost. For more information about why food is so important for managing stress, make sure to listen to the full podcast episode.
HOW TO MANAGE STRESS AS YOU RETURN TO SCHOOL – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 166 >>
Trying to adhere to a Mediterranean diet is really your best choice because it helps you receive that comprehensive blend of vitamins and minerals that support the immune system. You get antioxidants that are naturally coming from those foods to fend off oxidative stress and ease inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are in a higher abundance in a Mediterranean diet. Eating fruits and vegetables is also important, as well as healthy fats. Snacking on things such as walnuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds throughout the day can be beneficial.
There are certain nutrients, such as the amino acid tryptophan, that are derived from your diet and are essential to the body’s ability to manage stress. Tryptophan is needed to manufacture serotonin, which is the body’s happy neurotransmitter. In the absence of serotonin, we are going to experience higher levels of neuroinflammation, loss of focus, and feeling more on edge. The brain is just one pathway that chronic stress can impact. As it begins to affect more organs and pathways, it also weakens your immune system, diminishing your ability to heal, recover, and adapt. Chronic stress can cause many serious diseases, and if we don’t manage it, we are really setting ourselves up for some really harmful effects.†
We can also focus on what kinds of movement can help us deal with stress and add them into our routine. It could be running, yoga, meditation, or walking. You don’t have to go out and join a gym or become a marathon runner, but you do have to find something that you’re passionate about and something that you can enjoy doing. It could even be turning on your radio and moving to the music. These become means of decompressing. We have to take a mind, body, soul approach to managing stress.
There are also several nutrients that can be advantageous for managing stress.
HOW L-THEANINE RELIEVES STRESS WITHOUT FEELING DROWSY – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST. Listen now >>
It is so important for each of us to take our health seriously and that clearly includes taking care of stress, whether it’s from work, family, chronic disease, or something else. Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
