by Wayne H. Purdin — Scientists have found that laughter decreases the level of immunosuppressive hormones in the blood, while boosting the number of white blood cells that fight free radicals and tumor cells. Laughter also increases serotonin, which produces a natural high, provides a mini-aerobic workout, massages muscles, decreases pain and diverts the mind […]
Tag Archives: serotonin
The good news about chocolate
March 18, 2013
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by Stan Kalson — Cacao, the plant that is the source of chocolate, originated with the Olmec Indians around 1500 B.C. Cacao products have been winning fans since the Aztec leader Montezuma introduced the first chocolate beverage to the Spanish conqueror Cortez, who subsequently took it to Spain. The Mayans and Aztecs used cacao in […]
Depression, antidepressants and self-determination
October 31, 2012
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by Dr. Mark Force — Medical (allopathic) doctors commonly treat depression by prescribing SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) drugs such as Prozac, Paxil or Effexor. As of 2002, approximately 10 percent of adults in this country were using prescription antidepressants. There has been a recent trend to prescribe SSRIs for children; Prozac now comes in […]
Biochemical causes of depression
September 21, 2012
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by Dr. Mark Force — Certain distinct biochemical imbalances that trigger depression have been found to respond well to diet and nutritional supplementation. Different types of depression have different symptoms and underlying causes, including primary biochemical depression, serotonin deficiency, dopamine deficiency, high norepinephrine/epinephrine ratio, GABA deficiency and histamine excess. This article will discuss the most […]
Prescription for anti-depression
August 27, 2012
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by Dr. Martha Grout — For some people, the world is often gloomy and depressing. For others, the day-to-day routine can cause anxiety and stop them in their tracks. Depression drugs have a 50/50 success record; a 50-percent decrease in symptoms is about as good as it gets. If you are extremely low on serotonin […]
HEG works to end depression
August 15, 2012
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by Stephanie Reese, Ph.D. — Depression is one of the most common health conditions in the world. Contrary to popular thinking, people experiencing depression are incapable of just “pulling themselves together.” Depression is a medical illness involving both mind and body. It affects how a person thinks and behaves, and can cause a variety of […]
Chocolate: Feel good, lose weight and be healthy
March 5, 2012
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by Julia Busch — Can you “have your cake and eat it, too?” Apparently yes — if you’re talking chocolate. Chocolate lovers can indulge their passion, guilt-free, says research reported in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association. Derived from the fruit of the cacao tree, flavonol-rich dark chocolate may lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol […]
Neurotransmitter testing can help
February 27, 2012
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by Dr. Denise Grobe — If you are having long-term problems with fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, uncontrollable food cravings or mild-to-moderate depression, or if your current treatment for these symptoms is not working, then neurotransmitter testing may be the piece that completes the puzzle to your good health and happiness. What is a neurotransmitter? A neurotransmitter […]
Alcohol addiction and sugar
February 27, 2012
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by Paula Owens — In the United States, there are 17 to 20 million alcoholics — or about one in every 10 people. One-third of Americans are heavy drinkers (50 percent consuming more than 14 drinks weekly). Alcoholics are more prone to disease and accidents than the rest of the population and tend to die […]
We all need saturated fat
February 27, 2012
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by Mary Budinger — Is it better to get your energy from sugar or from fat? This is not as easy to answer as it sounds, thanks to nutrition “experts” who push a low-fat diet. Hint: sugar is not the answer. Thanks to a researcher named Ancel Keys, natural fat began to be demonized in […]
How to stress-proof your diet
February 26, 2012
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by Christina Jordan — For years, people have suspected that stress and obesity were linked — and now scientific research has found evidence to support this connection. As doctors better understand these reasons, they may be able to address the obesity epidemic facing the country. What you eat can affect your mood and metabolism. We […]
Functional medicine is the big picture approach
February 24, 2012
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by Dr. Martha Grout — The functional approach to healing does not fit into the existing Western medical paradigm with its one-size-fits-all approach to disease management. But it is the future of medicine because it is a rational approach to explaining what went wrong and how to fix it. Conventional medicine usually takes the small […]
Lifting the cloud of depression – Part II
February 23, 2012
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by Gracelyn Guyol — (Editor’s note: Part I offered simple solutions that enable better brain cell functioning.) If the “brain basics” covered in Part I of this feature did not completely lift your depression, then try the best free, fun and temporary antidepressant — exercise. Brain cells become energized by a flood of oxygen. Sustained […]
May 10, 2013
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