Unfortunately for many of us, depression is a battle we must face almost every day. Depression is something that affects many of us more and more over time.
Nutritional neuroscience is one of the most intriguing topics in the world of science. Sadly, it is an area that is not understood in its entirety. Nutrition and its importance in our daily lives are often overlooked. Over time, however, the importance of having the right nutrients in our day to day lives is being looked into more thoroughly as more and more evidence is emerging, sharing links between our physical and mental health.
New research suggests that having a clean and healthy gut can be linked to reducing depression.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, the brain, stomach and intestines are directly connected to one another. An example of this is when you begin to think about eating, the brain sends this information to the stomach and it begins to produce juices before food even reaches it.
The same goes for the gut. If the gut is in distress, it will send a message to the brain and vice versa.
Depression is not a disease, it is a symptom.
According to authors Dr Wallach and Dr Ma Lan who
wrote ‘Let’s Play Herbal Doctor’ and ‘Let’s Play Doctor’; depression is not a disease, it is a symptom. Dr Wallach and Dr Ma Lan believe that the underlying cause of depression can be found in our gut. A lack of key nutrients, food allergens and an unhealthy intestinal tract are some of the causes of depression.
Making sure we are getting the right nutrients and the right amount of them is important to our brain’s mental health. There are five neurotransmitters which are responsible for the brain’s emotional activity.
They are:
- Seratonin
- Endorphin
- Dopamine
- Norepinephrine
- Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
Studies show that there is a direct connection between these neurotransmitters among the body and also in our personal brain chemistry. Chemical imbalance amongst these neurotransmitters can produce emotions like anger, depression, memory loss and even hyperactivity.
You are what you eat.
The foods that we decide to eat and put into our bodies have a direct effect on us. A balanced intake of amino acids, fatty acids and vitamins in our food are needed in order to create neurotransmitters for optimal health.
The regular consumption of unhealthy foods which are low in key nutrients, for example, junk food, can have a negative impact on your gut and can destroy its lining. This can cause something called ‘leaky gut.’
What is leaky gut?
Leaky gut is a term used to describe sub-optimal digestion. The symptoms of sub-optimal digestion or leaky gut can vary from person to person. Problems can range from hormonal imbalances to stomach aches and even depression. Sub-optimal digestion inhibits the production of the five neurotransmitters responsible for keeping our mental health in top notch.
If you have digestion problems and are searching for a way in which you can help your gut do its job, then Youngevity has a gut feeling that you could benefit from Ultimate Enzymes which can help with sub-optimal digestion by supporting the digestive process. It works by replenishing enzymes in the body which are needed for breaking down foods and detoxifying the body. Enzymes are also important for building bone and muscle tissue.
Birds of a feather.
With a lot of research being done in terms of depression and brain health, it is now clear to scientists that the gut and the brain share a very close relationship. It is also believed that this relationship between the brain and the gut ties into the symptoms of depression.
It is highly likely that a cause of depression is due to possible inflammatory conditions in the gut. As well as being one of the causes; researchers think that inflammation in the gut is the main underlying issue in many cases of depression.
In this day and age, access to fast foods with little to no nutritional value is a more attractive option to some than a home cooked meal containing all the key nutrients. The over-consumption of unhealthy foods causes imbalances in our gut because we are not getting a good balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
The end result of not having a well-balanced diet and a healthy gut is inflammation. People that eat foods with gluten and dairy that happen to be allergic are also prone to having gut problems
Once inflammation occurs, it begins to affect the brain by producing chemicals that can cause anxiety, such as quinoline which is an inflammatory causing neurotoxin. You do not want your brain to produce these chemicals. Instead, you want positive chemicals such as melatonin and serotonin.
Many people that suffer from depression have similar dietary deficiencies such as not enough omega-3 fatty acids and low levels of vitamins B, C, and D.
Low levels of lithium, zinc, chromium and amino acids are also common amongst those with depression.
Take control of your health
The first thing that people with depression should look at if they want to overcome their battle; is their diet. A well balanced and stable diet is of vital importance to your intestinal health and can be the key to beating depression. If your body has trouble absorbing key nutrients, then Youngevity’s natural supplements might be able to help with that.
As well as Ultimate Enzymes, Youngevity has even more products which aid in digestion and promote a healthy gut.
One of those products is the Ultimate Flora FX.
Ultimate Flora FX is a blend of probiotics which is designed to support healthy digestive functions which is crucial for the absorption of nutrients. The probiotics help to re-establish and maintain a balance of good bacterial flora in the gut. One of the probiotics amongst the blend is glucono delta lactone (GDL) which nourishes the good bacteria and promotes better intestinal health.
Youngevity also recommends Root Beer Belly. It is a delicious treat for not only you but your digestive system as well. Root Beer Belly is a flavoured sprinkle made to promote a healthy gut.
It contains 5 of the most advantageous, micro-encapsulated probiotic strains on the market. The fact that it is micro-encapsulated means that it is more likely to survive acidity allowing it to promote a healthy immune system and improve your overall health and well being.
