Can Spending Time Outdoors Improve Mental Health? Approximately half of the world’s population live in cities and that is expected to increase in the coming years [1]. Despite the benefits of urban living (development of social networks, access to services, etc.), there are several aspects that may have a detrimental effect on a person’s health, […]
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Magnesium Intake and Depression There appears to be an association between magnesium intake and depression, whereby a low dietary intake of magnesium is correlated with an increased risk of depression [1]. In fact, it is has been shown that adults with higher magnesium blood levels have a 20% reduced risk of suffering from depression. Even […]
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Inflammatory Potential of Diet and Depression Research published in the British Journal of Nutrition examined the relationship between the inflammatory nature of a person’s diet and his or her risk of developing depression [1]. The researchers used the dietary inflammatory index (DII), which determines the potential of a diet to cause an inflammatory response in […]
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Biochemical subtypes associated with depression, anxiety, behaviour disorders and schizophrenia The standard treatment approach for correcting biochemistry in a person suffering from a mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc, comprises prescribing some form of medication (e.g, antidepressants). While this can be very helpful for a portion of people (approximately 30%) its effectiveness […]
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Environmental, physical, psychological, and nutritional causes of depression To adequately treat depression, it is important to identify what causes depression. There are several causes of depression including biological, psychological, lifestyle, environmental, and nutritional factors. Some of these are well-recognised by mental-health practitioners, while others are often overlooked and without adequate treatment will greatly influence the […]
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The Stress Response…and how it relates to the HPA Axis! Stress and the stress response mean different things to different people but it is often viewed in a negative light. However, when triggered at appropriate times, stress is certainly not a bad thing. In fact, it can have a number of positive effects in the body as […]
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5 Foods to Treat Depression Depression is one of the most common chronic diseases in Australia with up to 1 in 5 people experiencing it sometime during his or her life. It is characterised by a range of symptoms including a low mood, lack of enjoyment in everyday activities, low energy, agitation, inability to concentrate, […]
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Scientific Proof the Integrative Approach Works A study conducted several years ago and published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that using just a few integrative strategies can significantly improve treatment outcomes for depressed patients compared to a control group. [1] The intervention group incorporated the following 4 simple strategies into his or her […]
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Probiotics in Early Life May Prevent ADHD Research over the last decade has confirmed that the health of our gut can have a significant effect on both our physical and mental wellbeing. It is acknowledged that the gut and brain communicate and when there are disturbances in either, the other will be adversely affected. Our […]
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The Gut-Brain Connection in Depression and Anxiety: An Overlooked Cause of Depression and Anxiety Research has confirmed that there is a ‘bi-directional’ relationship between the gut and brain. They both communicate with each other, and when there is a problem in this communication, depression and anxiety can occur. Unfortunately, the health of our gut and its impact […]
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