Archive for 'bipolar disorder'

Salmon: The Healthiest Source of Fat on Planet Earth?

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 at 5:05 am  
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According to the U.S. National Fisheries Institute, the per capita consumption of salmon in America went from less than a pound a year in 1992 to more than 2 pounds a year in 2006. And that’s only an average. Among health-conscious Americans it’s not unusual to eat salmon weekly — or even more frequently. The reason? Salmon is loaded with two of the healthiest fats on the planet: the omega-3 fatty acids known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). And it’s absolutely delicious here in Broiled Salmon with Tamari-Orange Marinade.

Essential fatty acids were discovered in the early 1930s by husbandand-wife medical team George and Marilyn Burr. The Burrs found that rats deprived of fat developed a number of metabolic disturbances and symptoms, including scaly skin, growth retardation, and reproductive problems. Once fat was reintroduced into the rats’ diet, most of these problems disappeared. This led to the discovery of essential fatty acids, which are fats that are essential for health and that the body can’t actually make on its own — they need to be obtained in the diet.

Even though the two fatty acids in salmon, DHA and EPA, are among the most important compounds in human nutrition, they’re not technically essential fatty acids. Why? Because the body actually can make them from another omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid, which is essential.

But what the body can do and what it actually does do are two different things. Even if you’re taking in plenty of alpha-linolenic acid from flaxseed (which most people aren’t doing to begin with), very little of the alpha-linolenic acid actually converts to DHA and EPA, so you wind up noticeably lacking in these two incredibly important nutrients. And that’s not a good thing at all.

This is especially tragic because it’s so simple to get enough DHA and EPA. They’re packaged together in one tidy food: salmon. DHA and EPA work together brilliantly. And their combined benefits to your health are beyond stunning. Hundreds of studies show that the omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon benefit the heart and the brain, improving both mood and behavior.

DHA Delivers

The first of these two omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, is brain food and is crucial for vision. It’s the most abundant fat in the brain and the retina, and it is vitally important during pregnancy, where it’s linked to the development of the baby’s brain and eyes. DHA is also an important component of breast milk, and it’s well documented that breast-fed infants and toddlers score better on cognitive and visual tests, perhaps because of the DHA.

Both the World Health Organization and the British Nutrition Foundation recommend that infant formula be supplemented with DHA. And in a 2002 study of almost 9,000 pregnant women published in the British Medical Journal, researchers found that the babies of women who ate fish once a week during their first trimesters had more than 3 1/2 times less risk of low birth weight and premature birth.

DHA isn’t just important for babies. In 1998, scientists at the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA found that volunteers who ate foods enriched with DHA showed an increase in HDL cholesterol (the protective kind) and lowered their triglycerides by 26 percent.

EPA Essentials

EPA, the other important omega-3 fatty acid found in salmon, has complementary benefits. The March 2007 edition of the journal Atherosclerosis published a study in which some Japanese men with unhealthy blood sugar levels were given 1,800 mg a day of EPA for approximately 2 years. The men had a significant decrease in the thickness of their carotid arteries along with an improvement of blood flow.

Another study, this one published in the medical journal The Lancet (also March 2007), showed that people with high cholesterol levels who were on statin drugs reduced their frequency of major cardio events by almost 20 percent when they added EPA supplements to their daily regimens.

The Power of the Pair

DHA and EPA are known to be mood enhancers. They incorporate themselves into cell membranes, making the membranes more fluid and making it easier for important brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin to get in and out.

They help the brain to repair damage. Both DHA and EPA together are being studied in ongoing research at Harvard University by Andrew Stoll, M.D., for their effect on the depression of bipolar disorder. Also, a University of Pittsburgh study showed that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish such as salmon are associated with increased gray matter volume in areas of the brain commonly linked to mood and behavior.

A ton of studies link low omega-3 consumption to depression, mood disorders, and behavioral problems, including those that are especially worrisome among kids and teenagers, such as violence, acting out, and possibly ADHD. Research by Sarah Conklin, Ph.D., at the Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Program in the department of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, reported that people who had lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids were more likely to have negative outlooks and to be more impulsive.

And in 2001, Joseph Hibbeln, M.D., a senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health, published a study that found a correlation between a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids (mostly from fish) and lower murder rates!

Another way that omega-3 fatty acids provide health benefits is by reducing inflammation. Chronic, low-grade inflammation is emerging as a major risk factor for a host of chronic diseases, so much so that it was dubbed the “silent killer” in a Time magazine cover story a few years ago. Inflammation contributes to obesity, diabetes, cancer, A

lzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and probably some conditions we haven’t even thought of yet. And the omega-3s are among the most anti-inflammatory compounds in the world. A diet filled with natural anti-inflammatories (such as the omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon and flaxseeds and the many anti-inflammatory compounds found in the vegetables featured in this book) is one of the best preventive health strategies you could possibly follow.

The omega-3s in fish are among the most heart-healthy nutrients on the planet. Even the FDA gave them a “qualified health claim” in September of 2006, stating that “supportive but not conclusive research shows that the consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary .” Don’t be fooled by the FDA’s overly cautious language.

Fish such as salmon is a big component of nearly every native diet that has been shown to be associated with lower rates of . According to Stoll, omega-3s reduce the rate of fatal arrhythmias by 30 percent. “In the alone, more than 70,000 lives could be saved each year if Americans had sufficient omega-3s in their bodies,” he says.

We don’t.

Most of us get a paltry 0.1 to 0.2 g a day of EPA and DHA (that’s one-tenth to two-tenths of a gram!). (For what health organizations advise, see “EPA and DHA: What the Experts Recommend” on page 71.)

Personally, I’d like to see us get a minimum of 0.5 g a day of EPA and DHA, and ideally 1 to 3 g. You can meet the World Health Organization and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (WHO- NATO) recommendations consuming 2 servings of salmon (or other fatty fish such as mackerel) each week.

And if all this hasn’t convinced you of the incredible health benefits of ent meals of salmon, let me appeal to your vanity. Salmon can make look better. Nicholas Perricone, M.D., whose books on skin care have topped the best-seller list on numerous occasions, recommends a “three day diet” for clearing up your skin that features — what else — salmon.

For breakfast even! (Hey, it’s not that weird to the folks fishing through the ice in Greenland!) Actually, Perricone’s “three-day nutritional face-lift” claims your skin the same results that a face-lift would, by eating salmon two or three times a day, accompanied by fresh fruits and vegetables. I can’t guarantee that, but I’m pretty sure you’d look and feel pretty terrific after allowing your skin and hair cells to be bathed in the nectar of those nourishing omega-3s.

How to Cook Salmon

Probably the most important thing to remember when cooking fish is that it will continue to cook after it is off the heat, so you have to remove it before it is done to your liking. As the fish is cooking, cut into it frequently with a fork and look inside to check for doneness.

While most fish taste best when they flake and are opaque, this is not the case with salmon, which tastes best when it’s on the rare side. So when you’re cooking, look for the center to still be translucent. As a general guideline, grill salmon for 7 to 8 minutes per each inch (3 cm) of thickness.

Because of the wonderful healthy fat content of salmon, it does well in many cooking styles, including grilling, baking, poaching, broiling, and pan-frying. Crazy as it sounds, some people poach salmon in their dishwashers!

EPA and DHA: What the Experts Recommend

The World Health Organization and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (WHO-NATO) recommend consuming 0.3 to 0.5 g a day of EPA and DHA.

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommends consuming two 4-ounce (115 g) servings of fish high in EPA and DHA per week (such as salmon) to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

The American Heart Association recommends 0.5 to 1.8 g per day of EPA and DHA to reduce the risk of cardiac disease, plus 1.5 to 3 g of alpha-linolenic acid, which is found in flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, for even more benefit. The above is an excerpt from the book The Healthiest Meals on Earth by Johnny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
Published by Fair Winds Press; July 2008;$24.95US/$27.50CAN; 978-1-59233-318-9 Copyright 2008 Johnny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.

Author Bio
Johnny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S, is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition, and health. He’s a board-certified nutrition specialist with a master’s degree in psychology, a life coach, motivational speaker, and former personal trainer with six national certifications. His most recent book is the much-praised The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth. His book The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising Truth about What You Should Eat and Why has been endorsed by a virtual who’s who in the world of integrative medicine and nutrition, including Mehmet Oz, M.D., Christiane Northurp, M.D., and Barry Sears, Ph.D.

www.jonnybowden.com

View the original article here



Tags: senior investigator, lzheimer's disease, mood disorders, Omega-6 fatty acid, fatty acids

St. John’s Wort

Friday, August 13th, 2010 at 9:58 pm  
Comments (35)

Latin name: Hypericum perforatum

St. John’s wort is one of the most commonly used herbs in the . It’s a shrubby perennial plant with bright yellow flowers. St. John’s wort got it’s name because the flowers were said to bloom for the first time around June 24, the birthday of St. John the Baptist. The word “wort” means “plant” in Old English.

St. John’s wort has long been used as a folk remedy for emotional disorders. It was once thought to rid the body of evil spirits. St. John’s wort has also been used for wound healing and for a variety of other conditions.

There is debate about the active ingredient in St. John’s wort. St. John’s wort extracts are often standardized to hypericin, which led to the widespread belief that hypericin is the sole active compound. Another constituent called hyperforin has also been found to have antidepressant effects. A growing number of experts consider hyperforin to be the primary antidepressant compound. Recent research suggests other plant components called flavonoids and tannins may also have a medicinal effect. More research is needed.

St. John’s wort can be found in a variety of forms, including capsule, tablet, liquid extract, dry herb and tea. Oil and oil-based ointments and lotions can also available. Products are typically standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin or 2 to 5% hyperforin.

St. John’s wort is best known as a natural remedy for mild to moderate depression, but it’s also being studied for other conditions.

Depression

Numerous studies in Europe, and more recently in the , have found that St. John’s wort is more effective than a placebo and as effective as tricyclic antidepressants for the short-term treatment (1 to 3 months) of mild to moderate depression. It appears to cause fewer side effects than many antidepressants, which is one of the main reasons it has become so popular.

At least two recent studies, however, didn’t find St. John’s wort to be more effective than a placebo for major depression. Some experts consider the studies to be flawed, due to inadequate dosages and an insufficient number of participants, which led to unusual results. For example, in one of the studies, the prescription antidepressant sertraline (Zoloft) had no effect on major depression. Another study found that St. John’s wort was more effective than fluoxetine (Prozac) but not a placebo. The evidence for St. John’s wort for major depression remains unclear. Until we have evidence that it works for severe depression, it should not be used as a substitute for proven treatments.

A study involving 150 people with minor depression or dysthymia found that St. John’s wort was effective for minor depression (Hamilton Depression Scale score of up to 17), but that it wasn’t effective for people with dysthymia.

Anxiety

St. John’s wort is also being studied for anxiety because, in some studies on depression, people taking St. John’s wort also reported an improvement in anxiety. More research is needed.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

St. John’s wort has also been suggested as a possible treatment for OCD because the same medications (antidepressants) are often used for OCD, and because of promising results from a preliminary study. A later study on St. John’s wort, however, didn’t find it more effective than a placebo for OCD.

Skin Conditions

Oil of St. John’s wort, applied to the skin, was a folk remedy for skin injuries, nerve pain, burns and hemorrhoids. Although the oil is sold in some herbal stores, creams are also available. Some are standardized to hypericin or hyperforin, which are thought to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. St. John’s wort also contains tannins, naturally occurring compounds thought to relieve skin irritations, such as those resulting from minor cuts.

Ear Pain

Some alternative practitioners recommend St. John’s wort for ear pain due to an ear infection (otitis media). In a study of more than 100 children, a combination herbal ear drop that contained St. John’s wort, garlic, calendula and mullein was found to be as effective as conventional ear drops.

Smoking Cessation

St. John’s wort is being explored for smoking cessation. Although promising, well-designed studies are needed.

Other Conditions

St. John’s wort has also been explored for conditions that can have psychological symptoms, such as insomnia, menopausal symptoms, premenstrual syndrome, seasonal affective disorder and attention deficit disorder. Further studies are needed before recommendations can be made.

In published studies, the most common side effects associated with short-term use of St. John’s wort supplements have included mild stomach upset; allergic skin reactions; tiredness; restlessness; anxiety; sexual/erectile dysfunction; dizziness; dry mouth and headache. If applied to the skin, St. John’s wort may cause a skin rash. St. John’s wort (both oral or topical) increases the sensitivity of skin and eyes to sunlight.

Rarely, St. John’s wort has been associated with serotonin syndrome, a potentially dangerous condition resulting from an excess of serotonin in the central nervous system. Symptoms include confusion, fever, hallucinations, nausea, loss of muscle coordination, sweating, and shakiness. Use with antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, has been associated with this. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking St. John’s wort and seek immediate medical attention.

St. John’s wort may worsen symptoms in people with Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other mental conditions; it may also lead to psychosis or mania.

People with diagnosed or suspected depression should consult a doctor to ensure that their condition is properly assessed and treated.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those trying to conceive, should avoid St. John’s wort.

St. John’s wort should not be taken by organ transplant recipients, as it may cause organ rejection.

In one small study, St. John’s wort was associated with elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

Do not stop taking prescription drugs without consulting your doctor.

Tags: serotonin syndrome, st john the baptist, skin rash, antidepressant effects, oil-based ointments

SAMe

Friday, August 13th, 2010 at 12:50 am  
Comments (51)

Also known as: SAM-e, S-adenosylmethionine

The supplement SAMe is a synthetic form of a compound formed naturally in the body from the essential amino acid methionine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy-producing compound found in all cells in the body. It was first discovered in 1953.

SAMe is believed to work by being a methyl group donor in many reactions in the body. After donating the methyl group, it is converted to a compound called S-adenosyl-homocysteine.

Osteoarthritis

There have been a number of studies on the effectiveness of SAMe in the treatment of osteoarthritis. SAMe appears to diminish osteoarthritis pain as effectively as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. It appears to be well-tolerated.

Depression

There have been a number of studies on the use of SAMe for depression. It has been hypothesized that SAMe increases the availaibility of neurotransmitter serotonin and dopamine.

Liver disease

Some evidence suggests that SAMe may help people with liver disease. Preliminary research suggests it may help to normalize liver enzyme levels and help with cholestasis.

The safety of SAMe during pregnancy and during breastfeeding is unknown.

People with bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and other psychiatric conditions should only use SAMe under the supervision of their healthcare provider. SAMe has been associated with hypomania and mania.

The most common side effects are digestive complaints, particularly nausea. Other side effects include skin rash, lowered blood sugar, dry mouth, blood in the stool, thirst, increased urination, headache, hyperactivity, anxiety and insomnia.

People with Parkinson’s disease should avoid SAM-e.

Tags: psychiatric conditions, liver enzyme levels, anti inflammatory medication, methyl group, dry mouth

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