depressed mood Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Could Your Antidepressant be Cutting Your Life Short? Research Uncovers Surprising Risks

The AHA! Team — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:42:52 +0000

Dena Schmidt via NaturalHealth365 – WARNING: Out of 375,000 study participants on antidepressants, one-third died prematurely Antidepressants are supposed to help regulate mood and improve quality of life. However, a study led by scientists from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, has found that for some people, antidepressants raise the risk of premature death. Additionally, a new study published in BMJ Mental Health found that using antidepressants on their own can increase the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular issues. This suggests that antidepressants might play a role in linking mental health problems, like depression, to a higher risk of heart-related conditions. The most common antidepressant drug class is serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which function by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, one of the major feel-good chemicals in the brain. Serotonin has been called the “happiness” neurotransmitter, and people who aren’t producing enough of it are more prone to depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. WARNING: Out of 375,000 study participants on antidepressants, one-third died prematurely In theory, antidepressants such as SSRIs keep serotonin in the brain longer for those suffering from depression. However, Canadian researchers found that these antidepressants disrupt the regulation of multiple processes in the brain, including the ideal functioning of serotonin. The team conducted a meta-analysis of existing research from 16 medical studies and databases. They wanted to see if they could discern a link between antidepressant use and mortality. In all, 375,000 participants were studied. The researchers looked at the risk of several conditions in relation to antidepressants, including cardiovascular disease. They used a mixed-effects model to control for preexisting conditions and severity of depression for more accurate results. Different antidepressant types were studied, including SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants. Bottom line: the analysis found that taking antidepressants raised the risk of dying prematurely by 33 percent over those not taking antidepressants. Antidepressant users were also 14 percent more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or other adverse cardiovascular event. Serotonin assists in numerous bodily processes – not just mood Both tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs resulted in the same increased risk of early death. These types are considered the first generation of antidepressants. Serotonin isn’t just a brain chemical; this neurotransmitter is actually present throughout the body. It helps to regulate cell growth, digestion, reproduction, the immune system, and many other processes. To be perfectly clear, this valuable substance is present in just about every organ of the body. While keeping more serotonin in the brains of depressed people seems like a good idea, these drugs are clearly affecting brain and body chemistry in unanticipated ways. Even those who prescribe the drugs are not sure what their long-term effects might be. Manipulating serotonin functioning can lead to a range of different unforeseen effects – which in turn seem to be leading to early death for one-third of all antidepressant users. Natural antidepressants can boost serotonin without harmful side effects No doubt, synthetic antidepressant usage has soared in recent years. In the U.S., around one in 10 people are on SSRIs or other antidepressants. Even more shocking, an estimated one in 4 women between the ages of 40 and 60 take antidepressants. While severe clinical depression requires medical intervention, Americans need to stop relying on the ‘pill for every ill’ treatment approach and tap into the many natural solutions available. Americans need to stop relying on the ‘pill for every ill’ A healthy diet rich in organic (antioxidant-rich) vegetables and fruit and regular physical exercise can significantly reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Of course, many other things would also prove helpful, such as improving personal relationships, consuming a healthy amount of non-toxic fats like organic avocados and coconut oil, and taking adequate B vitamins. Simply put, there is so much that can be done to improve your emotional well-being – without the need for toxic medications. Do your research, work with a qualified holistic healthcare provider, and discover what works best for you. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Karger.com Medicalnewstoday.com Dailymail.com To read the original article click here.

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Feeling Anxious or Blue? Ultra-Processed Foods May be to Blame

AHA Publisher — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 07:00:22 +0000

Florida Atlantic University via Newswise – Do you love those sugary-sweet beverages, reconstituted meat products and packaged snacks? You may want to reconsider based on a new study that explored whether individuals who consume higher amounts of ultra-processed food have more adverse mental health symptoms. Although ultra-processed foods are convenient, low cost, quick to prepare or ready-to-eat, these industrial formulations of processed food substances (oils, fats, sugars, starch, protein isolates) contain little or no whole food. They result from extensive ‘physical, biological, and chemical processes’ that create food products that are deficient in original and natural food. Ultra-processed foods typically include flavorings, colorings, emulsifiers and other cosmetic additives. While there is some evidence regarding ultra-processed food consumption and depression, data are sparse regarding other adverse mental health symptoms including anxiety and mentally unhealthy days. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine and collaborators explored a nationally representative sample of the United States population to determine if individuals who consume high amounts of ultra-processed foods report significantly more adverse mental health symptoms including depression, anxiety and mentally unhealthy days. They measured mild depression, number of mental unhealthy days and number of anxious days in 10,359 adults 18 and older from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results of the study, published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, showed that individuals who consumed the most ultra-processed foods as compared with those who consumed the least amount had statistically significant increases in the adverse mental health symptoms of mild depression, “mentally unhealthy days” and “anxious days.” They also had significantly lower rates of reporting zero “mentally unhealthy days” and zero “anxious days.” Findings from this study are generalizable to the entire U.S. as well as other Western countries with similar ultra-processed food intakes. “The ultra-processing of food depletes its nutritional value and also increases the number of calories, as ultra-processed foods tend to be high in added sugar, saturated fat and salt, while low in protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals,” said Eric Hecht, M.D., Ph.D., corresponding author and an affiliate associate professor in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. “More than 70 percent of packaged foods in the U.S. are classified as ultra-processed food and represent about 60 percent of all calories consumed by Americans. Given the magnitude of exposure to and effects of ultra-processed food consumption, our study has significant clinical and public health implications.” Researchers used the NOVA food classification for the study, which is a widely used system recently adopted by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. NOVA considers the nature, extent and purpose of food processing in order to categorize foods and beverages into four groups: unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods and ultra-processed foods. “Data from this study add important and relevant information to a growing body of evidence concerning the adverse effects of ultra-processed consumption on mental health symptoms,” said Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH, co-author, the first Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine, and senior academic advisor, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “Analytic epidemiologic research is needed to test the many hypotheses formulated from these descriptive data.” According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 1 in 5 adults live with a mental illness. Mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety, are leading causes of morbidity, disability and mortality. To read the original article click here.

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7 SURPRISING Ways Sugar Can Harm Your Health

AHA Publisher — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – Let’s face it, sugar is extremely prevalent in today’s society. Many of the prepared and processed foods in grocery stores contain an alarming amount of sugar. This is why it’s well worth taking the extra minute or so to read the nutrition label before buying any packaged food item. We already know the typical dangers of sugar consumption such as obesity, tooth decay, and low energy, but there are many other conditions out there that you may not be aware of. Excessive Sugar Intake Damages Your Health in MULTIPLE Ways, Studies Show Here are seven surprising ways that sugar harms your health. Studies link high intake of sugar to a depressive mood. Sugar intake has been shown to increase depressive mood. It causes certain chemical processes in the brain that cause depression. If you experience depression, cutting back on sugar may help boost your outlook on life. Immune function reduced by eating too much sugar. Sugar consumption, especially fructose and high fructose corn syrup, lowers your immune system’s ability to function. What’s more, yeast and bacteria feed on sugar so consuming excessive amounts of sugar can cause infections as these organisms build up in the body. Instead of all the sugar-laden foods, eat ones that are rich in probiotics. Sugary foods can make your anxiety worse. When sugar is a standard part of your diet, you could be inviting in anxiety. High amounts of sugar in the diet have been shown to induce mood disorders in both women and men, namely anxiety. Eating too much sugar can sabotage your weight loss goals, but it can do even more harm. Regular sugar consumption can cause weight gain and obesity. When you couple this with the depression and anxiety that is common with such a diet, body dissatisfaction becomes more prevalent. Even someone who is not overweight may start to feel self-loathing and dissatisfaction with themselves. Sugar-laden diet may cause you to lose self-control. All too often, a person will indulge in sugar even though they know exactly what it does to their bodies. Even if a person is diabetic or pre-diabetic, he or she will often still consume sugar just because they want it or feel compelled to have it. Sugar takes a toll on your skin, destroys collagen production. High sugar diets damage the collagen and elastin molecules in the skin. This results in sagging and wrinkles. This can make you look older than you actually are. It can also cause your skin to appear dull, giving you a haggard appearance. Too much sugar cheats you out of nutrients. When you eat a lot of sugar you might be cheating your body out of important nutrients like vitamins A, C, B-12, and the mineral calcium. This can lead to nutrition deficiencies, which is a foundation of obesity. What’s the bottom line? Although low sugar diets are very popular, do not fall into the trap. Not all sugar is created equal, and you should not avoid sugars from whole foods such as organic fruits. Whole fruits offer many benefits to your health, including dietary fiber, disease-fighting antioxidants – and no added sugar. Many processed and prepared foods contain a lot of sugar, even those foods that you would never expect. The best thing you can do is always read the label. One of the best ways to reduce sugar in your diet is by eliminating sugar cravings. While this may seem like a daunting task, it is well worth the effort as over time, you will feel different mentally and physically in a good way. You will feel better, healthier, and you will have more energy. This is the only body you are going to get in life. Take care of it so that it will work for you in years to come. Sources for this article include: UTHM.edu DSpace.Library.uu.nl SCIRP.org NIH.gov TandFOnline.com NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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