http://www.arabnews.com/?page=9§ion=0&article=93256&d=11&m=3&y=2007
Wednesday, 7, March, 2007 (17, Safar, 1428)
Feed Your Brain
Mariam Alireza, Arab News
Depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, memory loss, or other
mental health disorders have become synonymous with Prozac, lithium,
antidepressants, and other powerful prescription drugs that may relieve
sufferers, or may even add misery to their depression and mental suffering.
When I think of such problems, I wonder what reduced these individuals to the
point of depression or mental decline. Were they born with these disorders? If
not, what triggers them?
Stress, sleep loss, strained relationships, financial or family
pressures, and a combination of these as well as nutrient deficiencies are
influential factors, leading to mental disorders. A genetic make-up is another
cause if prompted by deficiency in hormones (serotonin), neurotransmitters
(brain chemical messengers), essential fatty acids (omega-3-and-6), minerals,
and vitamins.
Though scientists knew for sometime that acute vitamin B deficiencies can
result in mental confusion, irritability, and memory loss, recent studies
indicate that B supplements can delay or even ward off Alzheimer's disease and
dementia.
What is interesting is that some B vitamins like B12 along with folic
acid can spark brain responses that increase the effectiveness and production
of the mood regulator, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), which induces serotonin
secretion in the brain. Insufficiency or absence of the two nutrients can
inhibit serotonin and dopamine, throwing the brain off balance.
Recent research shows that vitamin B12 plays a sizable role in making
SAMe. Even though B12 is usually low in depressed individuals, it is not clear
whether the vitamin deficiency triggers depression or is it a side effect of
the condition.
According to Finnish researchers, sufferers with higher blood B12 levels
experienced fewer depression symptoms than those with low vitamin B12. When B12
is suppressed, the brain and spine's protective sheath of nerves get affected,
resulting in numbness, extremity pricking, memory impairment, and dementia.
Vitamin B12 is found in animal products (meat, fish, poultry, eggs).
Since citizens over 60 years of age are less likely to fully absorb important
nutrients like B12 due to low stomach acid or intestinal disorders, they are,
therefore, advised to take digestive enzymes or hydrochloric acid to increase
their benefit from all nutrients in order to avoid deficiencies. Supplements
can come in handy.
According to Harvard Medical School psychiatrist George Papakostas, low
folic acid reduces SAMe levels so that depression sufferers' conditions
deteriorates, interfering with the effect of medication.
He, therefore, prescribes folates along with antidepressants to
non-responsive patients. Folic acid is abundant in dark leafy greens, cabbage
family, and oranges.
Not only B12 helps with Alzheimer's disease, but also vitamin B3, niacin;
it protects neurons from damage, preventing the disease as well as heart
problems.
This finding leads scientists to prescribe the vitamin and the
consumption of niacin-rich foods such as whole grains, nuts, and legumes.
The lesson to be learned, never starve your body from vital nutrients.
Start by eating a balanced, nutrient-rich, low-fat diet consisting of fresh
organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, their
cold-pressed oils (essential fatty acids), free-range poultry, eggs, and dairy
products, and toxin-free fish.
Include regular activity and keep stress out of your life. Remember, when
you feed your body you are nourishing your brain as well. Shall we call this,
hitting two birds with one stone?
(Mariam Alireza is a holistic science specialist. Send comments to [EMAIL
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