The Importance of Vitamin B6 – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 523
Not sure if you should be taking Vitamin B6 on its own? Find out why you might need this nutrient from Amanda Williams, MD, MPH.
Tag: depression
Getting to Know Zinc – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 516
Zinc is the second most abundant mineral in your body, but many people don’t have enough of it. This nutrient is essential for immune health, brain function, heart health and more.
Feeling Anxious? Consider These Nutrients – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 466
anxious
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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When it comes to feeling anxious, many people have experienced this from time to time. But, there is a big difference between feeling anxious because of a big test or interview and living with anxiety on a regular basis. Today I want to talk about a few different nutrients that can zero in on those who are dealing with more chronic states of anxiety.†
What is anxiety and how does it exist in the body?
We know that anxiety is a normal response to stress. It does actually serve a purpose in the body. It can help us with the fight or flight response so we’re not putting ourselves into a dangerous or harmful situation. When that anxiety becomes more of a commonplace occurrence, then we fall more into the category of an anxiety disorder. We’re not just having a moment where we’re feeling anxious. This is the big difference.†
When it comes to anxiety disorder, this is usually broken down into three different categories. You have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which can also tie into different phobias and social anxiety disorder.†
OCD AND THE NUTRIENTS SHOWN TO BE SUPPORTIVE – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 440. Listen Now>>
We know that anxiety disorders in general develop through a complex interaction between the brain and the body’s stress response network. This brings us to our adrenals and the HPA axis, as well as the GI system. We have to understand the functional role that our microbiome actually plays when it comes to regulating our anxiety.†
How to help when you’re feeling anxious
Most people who are told by their doctor that they have anxiety are usually given a prescribed medication. The problem is that many people who are anxious sometimes don’t take the medication because then they have the worry of what the medication might do to them or they might not be responsive to the medication, meaning that when they use it, it may not be doing much for them. This can drive up more of that anxiety.†
We want to make sure that we’re doing the right things to help fight anxious feelings. We should be getting adequate sleep, exercising and taking in the right nutrients every single day. There is a whole list of different nutrients that can be beneficial when it comes to targeting anxiety, including B-vitamins.†
Methyl-B would be a great option to have on board. The mineral magnesium is helpful for relaxation, so the Magnesium Glycinate would be a good option to take in the evening before bed. We can look at the amino acid theanine, which has its role in terms of mimicking the primary calming neurotransmitter, GABA.†
We can look at how the GI tract is so involved in anxiety disorders, so taking a good, comprehensive, multi-strain probiotic along with the prebiotic, such as the Probiotic HxⓇ, would be your go-to. This allows you to lay down good, healthy microbes to allow for the proper regulation of neurotransmitters throughout the GI tract.†
I also want to zero in on 5-HTP, which is 5-hydroxytryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that we can derive from our diet, but 5-HTP is not found in our food. The body takes tryptophan and converts into 5-HTP, which then creates serotonin. We know that 5-HTP as a supplement has been widely-studied for its impact on problems caused by low serotonin levels. This includes issues such as depression and fibromyalgia. When we look at anxiety, we know that this can be accompanied by issues with mood and low energy states, but we also know that 5-HTP has certainly been shown to be very beneficial for that. When we look at combining that up with other nutrients such as adrenal adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha and rhodiola, as well as L-Theanine, using 5-HTP can really yield someone who is dealing with anxiety a whole lot of support.†
In this episode, Amanda Williams, MPH discusses what it means to feel anxious and how this issues comes about within the body. She offers recommendations for nutrients that can help with these feelings, focusing especially on 5-HTP.†
Key Topics:
- How common is anxiety?
- The dangers of feeling anxious
- Medications commonly prescribed for anxiety
- What can trigger anxious feelings
- Research on 5-HTP
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.
Sugar and Mental Health – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 429
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.
Long COVID and Brain Health – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 374
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.
Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help with Pandemic-Related Depression? – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 372
depression
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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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.†
Research on depression and omega-3 fatty acids
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.†
Are you getting enough of these important nutrients?
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:
- Statistics on depression and anxiety before and during the pandemic
- The widespread nature of depression
- Different symptoms associated with depression and anxiety
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.
