The amino acid that can lift depression
When you're battling depression, don't head for the doctor -- head for the butcher instead, and order yourself a grass-fed steak.
It's nature's best source of mood-boosting B vitamins and brain-building fats. And if that one-two punch isn't enough to knock your depression out, meats also have one other ingredient... a secret ingredient that's even more powerful than antidepressant drugs.
Well, it's not a secret anymore because a new study shows that creatine -- the amino acid favored by body builders -- can outmuscle even the toughest cases of depression.
Five grams of creatine a day for eight weeks chased major depression away completely in half for the women who tried it. Compare that to just a quarter of the women who were given a placebo.
Can't wait eight weeks? You don't have to -- because many of the benefits kicked in almost immediately. At the two-week mark, women given creatine improved by 32 percent on a major scale used to rate depression symptoms.
Those on the placebo "improved" by a measly 3.7 percent.
And at four weeks, the women on creatine more than doubled their improvements to 68 percent, versus 29 percent for those on the placebo.
All of the women were also taking the SSRI drug Lexapro when the study began.
So if I have any problem with the study, it's the lack of a group that took creatine WITHOUT Lexapro -- because I'd bet a steak dinner that even by itself, creatine would lead to big-time improvements in depression symptoms.
The best natural sources of creatine are, of course, meats and fish. But you won't always get enough from food alone -- and if that's your story, try a supplement. You'll find them in any vitamin shop, but avoid the ones in the bodybuilding aisle.
My recommended B vitamin supplement is from Standard Process which is the only one that contains B-4 one of the most important for heart health.
When you're battling depression, don't head for the doctor -- head for the butcher instead, and order yourself a grass-fed steak.
It's nature's best source of mood-boosting B vitamins and brain-building fats. And if that one-two punch isn't enough to knock your depression out, meats also have one other ingredient... a secret ingredient that's even more powerful than antidepressant drugs.
Well, it's not a secret anymore because a new study shows that creatine -- the amino acid favored by body builders -- can outmuscle even the toughest cases of depression.
Five grams of creatine a day for eight weeks chased major depression away completely in half for the women who tried it. Compare that to just a quarter of the women who were given a placebo.
Can't wait eight weeks? You don't have to -- because many of the benefits kicked in almost immediately. At the two-week mark, women given creatine improved by 32 percent on a major scale used to rate depression symptoms.
Those on the placebo "improved" by a measly 3.7 percent.
And at four weeks, the women on creatine more than doubled their improvements to 68 percent, versus 29 percent for those on the placebo.
All of the women were also taking the SSRI drug Lexapro when the study began.
So if I have any problem with the study, it's the lack of a group that took creatine WITHOUT Lexapro -- because I'd bet a steak dinner that even by itself, creatine would lead to big-time improvements in depression symptoms.
The best natural sources of creatine are, of course, meats and fish. But you won't always get enough from food alone -- and if that's your story, try a supplement. You'll find them in any vitamin shop, but avoid the ones in the bodybuilding aisle.
My recommended B vitamin supplement is from Standard Process which is the only one that contains B-4 one of the most important for heart health.
Sleep on an
incline?
That's standard advice to patients with chronic heartburn or acid reflux. And it makes good sense. That burning sensation is irritation of the esophagus by stomach acids that bubble up past the esophageal sphincter.
Lying on an incline helps keep the acids down where they belong.
But once you've set up your bedding on an incline, then what?
Several studies have addressed this basic sleep question... Should you sleep on the left side or right side? Or does it even matter?
The surprising results... It matters.
Several different studies have come to the same conclusion. Sleeping on your right side irritates heartburn/reflux pain.
Why? We'll need more research to answer that one. Meanwhile, try snoozing on your left side.
For many, L-E-F-T spells relief.
That's standard advice to patients with chronic heartburn or acid reflux. And it makes good sense. That burning sensation is irritation of the esophagus by stomach acids that bubble up past the esophageal sphincter.
Lying on an incline helps keep the acids down where they belong.
But once you've set up your bedding on an incline, then what?
Several studies have addressed this basic sleep question... Should you sleep on the left side or right side? Or does it even matter?
The surprising results... It matters.
Several different studies have come to the same conclusion. Sleeping on your right side irritates heartburn/reflux pain.
Why? We'll need more research to answer that one. Meanwhile, try snoozing on your left side.
For many, L-E-F-T spells relief.
The bitter
truth about fake sweeteners
You'd think making what may be the world's most dangerous sweetener would be enough -- but the makers of aspartame aren't stopping there.
They've expanded their "Equal" line of artificial sweeteners to include other risky chemical sugar substitutes. They've put each one into a different colored packet, so here's your guide to this toxic rainbow:
Blue: The blue packets are "Equal Classic" and contain the aspartame you already know and loathe. This junk has been linked to many different symptoms and conditions and the list keeps growing -- including cancer, migraines, memory loss, premature birth, and even death.
Pink: If this looks familiar, it's because they're following the same color scheme as the old Sweet 'N Low packets, except now it's called "Equal Saccharin." It's better than aspartame, but not by much: Saccharin was originally derived from coal tar, once had a warning label over cancer risk, and can cause allergic reactions and spikes in insulin levels.
Yellow: "Equal Sucralose" looks like Splenda, because it basically is. They're both sucralose, which once had an ad campaign claiming that it's "made from sugar." That wouldn't be worth bragging about even if it was true -- but it's not. It's really a lab creation discovered during insecticide research. It contains chlorine, a possible carcinogen, and has been linked to any number of gastrointestinal problems. And there are almost no long-term studies on sucralose consumption in humans.
You'd think making what may be the world's most dangerous sweetener would be enough -- but the makers of aspartame aren't stopping there.
They've expanded their "Equal" line of artificial sweeteners to include other risky chemical sugar substitutes. They've put each one into a different colored packet, so here's your guide to this toxic rainbow:
Blue: The blue packets are "Equal Classic" and contain the aspartame you already know and loathe. This junk has been linked to many different symptoms and conditions and the list keeps growing -- including cancer, migraines, memory loss, premature birth, and even death.
Pink: If this looks familiar, it's because they're following the same color scheme as the old Sweet 'N Low packets, except now it's called "Equal Saccharin." It's better than aspartame, but not by much: Saccharin was originally derived from coal tar, once had a warning label over cancer risk, and can cause allergic reactions and spikes in insulin levels.
Yellow: "Equal Sucralose" looks like Splenda, because it basically is. They're both sucralose, which once had an ad campaign claiming that it's "made from sugar." That wouldn't be worth bragging about even if it was true -- but it's not. It's really a lab creation discovered during insecticide research. It contains chlorine, a possible carcinogen, and has been linked to any number of gastrointestinal problems. And there are almost no long-term studies on sucralose consumption in humans.
With health fears over reports resulting from consuming artificial sweeteners, most people looking for a zero calorie sugar substitute have been left wanting -- until now. It's not that safe, natural, low-calorie sugar substitutes were unavailable, just that the public doesn't know much about them. There are actually several delicious natural sugar substitutes that can take the place of any artificial sweetener -- even in baking -- and one surprise that makes them all taste even better. And the best part is most have no worrisome side effects.
Stevia
Stevia is the darling of
the zero-calorie sugar substitutes, with good reason. It's totally natural,
plant based, has no calories at all, 40 times sweeter than sugar, won't cause
spikes in blood sugar levels and has no discernible side effects. Stevia caught
on slowly due to initially having a bitter aftertaste; however, manufacturers
of stevia products have started using the sweeter parts of the stevia plant to
reduce the bitterness, making it more palatable. Because stevia is so much
sweeter than sugar, it's difficult to use in baking. Stevia has not been
approved by the FDA at the time of this article, due mainly to the strong
lobbying efforts to keep it off the market by the American sugar corporations.
Xylitol is found
naturally in certain fruits, vegetables, and corn cobs and is also a byproduct
of animal metabolism. It's been reported that it may help strengthen the immune
system and slow aging. Additionally, it contains antibacterial properties and
is approved by the FDA. Xylitol has 9 calories per teaspoon and can be used in
cooking and baking -- but please use non-GMO products. Substitute it for half
the amount of sugar called for in a recipe. It protects against the formation of
dental cavities, because the bacteria in the mouth do not form acids that
attack tooth enamel like they do in combination with refined sugar. Because it
will not cause fermentation, xylitol helps fight candida, preventing yeast
infections. The one down side of eating xylitol is that too much can cause gas,
diarrhea and bloating.
Luo Han Guo
Luo Han Guo is a sweet
fruit found in China whose extract is used as a sugar substitute. Momordica
grosvenori, the fruit yielding Luo han guo extract is a type of cucumber
squash. The sweetening agents are called mogrosides and are available in powder
form, which are about 250% sweeter than sugar. The product is stable and can be
used in cooking and baking. One half teaspoon of Luo han guo has the equivalent
sweetness of 25 teaspoons of sugar and less than 1 calorie. It has been used
medicinally in China for hundreds of years to ease gastrointestinal ailments
and respiratory conditions. It helps stabilize blood sugar and it has no known
side effects.
Salt
Not a natural sugar substitute, but a natural
flavor enhancer, salt is recommended by Alton Brown of the Food Network
as a complement to sweet foods. Used in moderation, a sprinkle of salt brings
out the sweetness or any natural sweetener or sugar substitute; and, salt removes any bitterness
that may linger in foods.
Chemical used in
buttery flavor can mimic dementia damage
If you can, take a moment to glance at the photos on this government website. But just in case you can't take a look right now let me describe what you'd see if you could. The photos show men handling a bucket of urine-yellow oil so dangerous they need to wear artificial respirators.
You'd think they were handling toxic waste, based on the pictures -- but they're not.
They're working with diacetyl, the main ingredient used to make artificial buttery flavors and scents -- and believe it or not, it's even more dangerous than the men in those pictures realize.
New research finds that diacetyl can cross the blood-brain barrier and kick off the very process that leads to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, it causes the protein beta-amyloid to clump.
Essentially, it fills your brain with garbage. The brain can usually clean itself up, but the diacetyl can also block the protein that allows the brain to repair itself, according to the study in Chemical Research in Toxicology.
That alone should keep you away from anything "butter flavored." But if that's not enough, consider those pictures I showed you earlier.
The reason the men handling this stuff are wearing moonsuits is that breathing it in can damage and destroy the lungs, leading to disability and even death.
Obviously, you want nothing to do with this chemical poison. Next time you go to the movies, skip the popcorn -- because diacetyl is used in the nasty yellow goo that passes for "butter." It's also in butter-flavored microwaved popcorn, baked goods, and anything else that needs a hint of butter flavor or smell.
The irony of this is that fake butters were created as a "healthy" alternative to real butter. I don't know about you, but brain damage and lung diseases aren't what I consider to be healthy.
I'm sticking to the real thing, thank you very much.
If you can, take a moment to glance at the photos on this government website. But just in case you can't take a look right now let me describe what you'd see if you could. The photos show men handling a bucket of urine-yellow oil so dangerous they need to wear artificial respirators.
You'd think they were handling toxic waste, based on the pictures -- but they're not.
They're working with diacetyl, the main ingredient used to make artificial buttery flavors and scents -- and believe it or not, it's even more dangerous than the men in those pictures realize.
New research finds that diacetyl can cross the blood-brain barrier and kick off the very process that leads to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, it causes the protein beta-amyloid to clump.
Essentially, it fills your brain with garbage. The brain can usually clean itself up, but the diacetyl can also block the protein that allows the brain to repair itself, according to the study in Chemical Research in Toxicology.
That alone should keep you away from anything "butter flavored." But if that's not enough, consider those pictures I showed you earlier.
The reason the men handling this stuff are wearing moonsuits is that breathing it in can damage and destroy the lungs, leading to disability and even death.
Obviously, you want nothing to do with this chemical poison. Next time you go to the movies, skip the popcorn -- because diacetyl is used in the nasty yellow goo that passes for "butter." It's also in butter-flavored microwaved popcorn, baked goods, and anything else that needs a hint of butter flavor or smell.
The irony of this is that fake butters were created as a "healthy" alternative to real butter. I don't know about you, but brain damage and lung diseases aren't what I consider to be healthy.
I'm sticking to the real thing, thank you very much.
The information on this blog is provided for
educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical
care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or
suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician
(preferably a Naturopath).
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