Saffron increases heart rate variability Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a measure of the variation in time between each heartbeat. A lower HRV is found in people with medical and psychological conditions including several cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, depression, and bipolar disorder. A higher HRV is believed to be a sign of good health and […]
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Reducing inflammation and treating depression and other mood disorders with SPMs Inflammation is an essential biological process that helps protect us against foreign organisms, tissue injury, or other insults. While inflammation is often considered a bad thing, the reality is that it is an essential process. When inflammation occurs, chemicals from our blood cells are […]
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Mobile phone apps to reduce obsessive and negative thoughts There is an increasing array of phone applications that are designed to help improve our health. Common ones include apps that help increase physical activity or support healthy food choices. There is also a large range of apps that are designed to help us relax. Some […]
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Anti-inflammatory treatments for psychiatric disorders: Are medications the only answer? I have just read an article written by Professor Norbert Müller and published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, titled ‘COX-2 Inhibitors, Aspirin, and Other Potential Anti-Inflammatory Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders’ [1]. In the article, research on the anti-inflammatory drugs, celecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) […]
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Can exposure to electromagnetic fields affect sleep and mental health? Extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields (ELF-EMF) are produced by both natural and artificial sources. Naturally occurring ELF-EMF are associated with atmospheric processes such as ionospheric currents, thunderstorms, and lightning. However, artificial sources are the most dominant sources of ELF-EMF and are usually associated […]
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Are probiotics and prebiotics effective for depression and anxiety? A summary of the largest review so far…. There is strong interest in the potential of probiotics and prebiotics as a treatment for anxiety and depression. The results so far have been mixed, comprising both positive and negative findings. It has been difficult to form any […]
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Antibiotics during infancy and its effect on later mental and cognitive health There is increasing concern about the over-use of antibiotics. It is associated with antibiotic resistance and can significantly affect the composition of our gut microbiome. When given to infants and children, concerns are expressed about their long-term effects In a recent study, the […]
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An investigation into the effects of a gluten-free diet on psychiatric disorders There is increasing research to suggest dietary allergies and intolerances may contribute to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia [1]. Common food culprits include gluten, dairy, nightshades (e.g., tomatoes, eggplant, capsicum), nuts, and shellfish. When such foods are […]
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Stress alters the gut microbiota: implications for depression, anxiety, and neuroinflammation Researchers and health-care practitioners are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the relationship between the gut and brain for both mental and physical health. There is increasing evidence to suggest there are alterations in the intestinal microbiota (gut bacteria) in people with depression, […]
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Probiotic administration may reduce relapse rates in people with bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder is a condition characterised by periods of depression and mania. During depressive periods people experience low mood, reduced pleasure in activities, low energy, distributed sleep, reduced appetite, and often suicidal thoughts. In contrast to these depressive periods, mania is characterised by increased […]
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