anxiety disorder Archives - Amazing Health Advances

“Mood-Lifting” Mushrooms? Intriguing New Study Links Mushroom Consumption with Lowered Depression Risk

AHA Publisher — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 08:00:46 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – If you’re feeling a little more “down in the dumps” lately, you have plenty of company. In a disturbing – but unsurprising – report, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the COVID-19 pandemic had taken a significant toll on national mental health. Between August of 2020 and February of 2021, the percentage of American adults with recent symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorders jumped from 36.4 percent to 41.5 percent. On a more hopeful note, researchers at Penn State College of Medicine, have just published a new study suggesting that mushroom consumption is linked to reduced rates of depression. While nobody claims that mushrooms are a miracle cure for depression, the study indicates that these tasty fungi contain compounds that can lift the mood. (And many of us could use some of that!) Let’s see what the research says about the antidepressant effects of mushrooms. Researchers Say: Study Suggests Mushrooms Cut Depression Risk In the study, which involved over 24,000 adults and was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, participants filled out questionnaires detailing their daily diets. The researchers concluded that those who ate moderate amounts of mushrooms had a lower likelihood of experiencing depression. In a perplexing finding, those who ate moderate amounts (about 5 grams a day) experienced the strongest antidepressant effects. Scientists did not know why higher amounts of mushrooms, such as 20 grams a day, did not experience a reduction in depression rates. In other words, it seems there is a “sweet spot” for mushroom consumptionthat leads to lower depression risk. By the way, the fungi that the subjects reported eating weren’t of the psychoactive or hallucinogenic variety. Although they weren’t identified by type, they were presumably ordinary mushrooms commonly available in American supermarkets, such as white button, crimini, and portobello. Antidepressant Effects of Mushrooms Linked to Potent Antioxidant Addressing the reasons for this surprising benefit of consuming mushrooms, lead researcher Dr. Djibril Ba., Ph.D., noted that they are the highest known dietary source of ergothioneine, an antioxidant amino acid. This could allow mushrooms to decrease levels of oxidative stress, thereby reducing symptoms of depression. In addition, mushrooms’ generous amounts of potassium could also contribute to their anti-anxiety and mood-lifting effects. Mushrooms are also rich in vitamin B12, which is associated with reduced anxiety. Finally, mushrooms marketed as having been grown under UV light are rich in vitamin D, which has been linked with improvements in mood. Incidentally, other nutrients believed to have mood-lifting effects include folate (a B vitamin), omega-3 fatty acids (found in coldwater fatty fish like salmon and sardines), and fermented foods such as yogurt and kimchi. In general, experts note that high-fiber diets – featuring plenty of antioxidant-rich fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs – can improve mental health while reducing the risk of age-related cognitive decline. Additional Research Links Mushroom Consumption to Longer Lives and Less Cancer Risk Earlier research by the same group of scientists has shown that the antidepressant effects of mushrooms are not their only benefit. In a study involving over 16,000 participants, the team found that the group with the highest consumption of mushrooms lowered their risk of premature death by a significant 16 percent. Moreover, adding mushrooms to the diet while subtracting another item seemed to offer even more important benefits. In fact, substituting a daily serving of mushroom for a daily serving of red or processed meat lowered cancer risk by 35 percent! Scientists believe mushrooms’ life-prolonging effects may stem from their content of glutathione – the body’s premier antioxidant – and ergothioneine. Both glutathione and ergothioneine are believed to play significant roles in preventing chronic diseases and premature death. That isn’t all. Earlier research by the same team showed a connection between mushrooms and lowered cancer risk. In a meta-analysis, the scientists found that participants who ate 18 grams of mushrooms a day reduced their cancer risk by 45 percent compared to those whose diets didn’t include mushrooms. Mushrooms Are a True “Superfood” In addition to their other virtues, mushrooms have a stellar nutritional profile. Virtually free of fat, sodium, and cholesterol, mushrooms are about as low-cal as it gets, with a half-cup serving (35 grams) containing about seven calories and 1.1 grams of protein. Plus, they are packed with B vitamins and are a good source of copper, potassium, and iron. Bonus health tip: For mushrooms with the highest ergothioneine content, look for oyster and shiitake varieties. With their satisfying consistency and savory taste, mushrooms can be consumed raw or grilled, roasted, steamed, or sauteed. So, go ahead and enjoy mushrooms in salads, stews, risotto, pasta, and omelets. Not only are they a great addition to a healthy diet, but they might just brighten your mood. Sources for this article include: MedicalNewsToday.com BioMedCentral.com MedicalNewsToday.com To read the original article click here.

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How to Use the Neurocycle to Break the Cycle of OCD Thinking

AHA Publisher — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:00:38 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #262) and blog, I talk about how to Neurocycle to break the cycles of OCD (obsessive-compulsive thinking) and avoid getting stuck in toxic thinking patterns and rumination. Let’s start with getting stuck in our thoughts. OCD is often defined as an anxiety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and ritualized, repetitive behaviors someone feels compelled to perform. If you battle with OCD, you probably recognize that many of your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational—but even so, you feel unable to resist them and break free. I see OCD-type thinking as a way of coping with an underlying unresolved issue. It’s not always the most effective or sustainable way to deal with pain or trauma, but it’s a coping mechanism—a type of distraction you use to try to manage or keep the source of your pain bearable. It’s not “brain damage”; it is a pattern that is set up to help you cope in a situation that is threatening your safety or survival in some way, which can develop into a toxic habit that takes over your life. With OCD-type thinking, there is an underlying cause that needs to be identified and reconceptualized, as I discuss in my most recent book, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess. You can’t just condition yourself to stop because the automatized driving force is still there—you must get to the root of this type of thinking using self-regulation and mind-management techniques, as I talk about in my book. You need to observe the pattern of your thoughts and behaviors, discover what the activator is and reconceptualize this using what I call the Neurocycle, which is a 5 step, scientifically-based process that helps you manage your mind and change your thinking. Over a period of at least 63 days, you can perform the Neurocycle steps to find and address the root cause(s) of this type of thinking: Gather awareness of what you are feeling emotionally and physically and your perceptions as you work on your OCD thinking. Reflect on why you feel and act the way you do—be as specific as possible. Write this down—this is way to help organize your thinking and gain clarity into your thought patterns and behaviors. Recheck what you have written. Look for patterns and triggers (or activators) in your work life, your relationships, your responses, your attitudes and so on. Take action. I call this step an “active reach”. It is essentially an action you take to reinforce the new, reconceptualized pattern of thinking and behaving you want in your life (which is replacing the old, toxic OCD cycle). To read the original article click here. For more articles by Dr. Leaf click here.

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Thyroid Inflammation Linked to Anxiety Disorders

AHA Publisher — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 07:00:17 +0000

European Society of Endocrinology via EurekAlert – Patients with autoimmune inflammation of their thyroid may be at greater risk of developing anxiety, according to a study being presented at e-ECE 2020. The study found that people with anxiety may also have inflammation in their thyroid gland that can be reduced by taking the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, ibuprofen. These findings suggest that thyroid function may play an important role in the development of anxiety disorders and that thyroid inflammation should be investigated as an underlying factor in psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety. At present, up to 35% of the young population (25-60 years) in developed countries have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can have a severe impact of people’s quality of life and ability to work and socialise, and anti-anxiety medication does not always have a lasting effect. Current examinations for anxiety disorders usually focus on dysfunction of the nervous system and do not take into account the role of the endocrine system. The thyroid gland produces the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) that are essential for regulating heart, muscle and digestive function, brain development and bone maintenance. Autoimmune inflammation in the thyroid occurs when our bodies wrongly produce antibodies that attack the gland and causes damage. Recent studies indicate that anxiety disorders can be associated with the dysfunction of the thyroid gland. Therefore, it is important to understand how this may contribute to anxiety, so that patients can be treated more effectively. Dr Juliya Onofriichuk from Kyiv City Clinical Hospital investigated thyroid function in 29 men (average age 33.9) and 27 women (average age 31.7) with diagnosed anxiety, who were experiencing panic attacks. Ultrasounds of their thyroid glands assessed thyroid function and levels of thyroid hormones were measured. The patients with anxiety showed signs of inflammation of their thyroid glands but their function was not affected, with thyroid hormone levels all within the normal range, although slightly elevated. They also tested positive for antibodies directed against the thyroid. Treatment for 14 days with ibuprofen and thyroxine reduced thyroid inflammation, normalised thyroid hormone levels and reduced their anxiety scores. “These findings indicate that the endocrine system may play an important role in anxiety. Doctors should also consider the thyroid gland and the rest of the endocrine system, as well as the nervous system, when examining patients with anxiety,” Dr Onofriichuk explains. This knowledge could help patients with anxiety receive more effective treatment that improves thyroid function and could have a long-term positive effect on their mental health. However, sex and adrenal gland hormones were not taken in to account in this study, and these can also have a serious effect on anxiety. Dr Onofriichuk now plans to conduct further research that examines the levels of thyroid, sex and adrenal hormones (cortisol, progesterone, prolactin, oestrogen and testosterone) in patients with dysfunctional thyroid glands and anxiety disorders. This research aims to help understand more clearly the role of the endocrine system in the development of anxiety and could lead to better management of anxiety disorders. To read the original article click here.

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‘Safety Signals’ May Help Slow Down Anxiety

AHA Publisher — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 08:00:34 +0000

Yale University via Science Daily – For as many as one in three people, life events or situations that pose no real danger can spark a disabling fear, a hallmark of anxiety and stress-related disorders. To read the original article and learn more about these safety signals, click here.

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