As a Naturopath my goal is to improve the lives of my clients in ways they could only imagine. One of the best things about being a Naturopath is that once people are optimally nourished, everything improves. Not just the ailment they originally came in for.
Unlike pharmaceuticals where one drug is prescribed for one ailment only. Natural medicine, diet and lifestyle advice has a domino effect on the whole body.
For instance, the absence of just one nutrient such as zinc, has wide ranging affects on the body. It affects the health of the immune system, leaving the individual prone to viral infections. It can affect reproduction and hormone synthesis (especially Testosterone in men). Zinc deficiency can also exacerbate skin conditions such as eczema and acne and insufficient zinc is also a factor in depression and anxiety.
For most clients this would simply be an unrelated mix of ailments. But to a trained Naturopath there is an undeniable link between these symptoms. So instead of their GP prescribing an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety drug and a cortisone cream for their skin, a Naturopath would prescribe the missing ‘ingredient’ in this case zinc and the ailments could all be treated safely and effectively.
Indeed there are countless other uses for zinc in the body as it is involved with some 500 chemical reactions throughout the body. But supplementing with zinc alone is often not sufficient to affect any real change. The reason for this is that zinc requires other co-factors such as vitamins and minerals for it to be absorbed properly.
Dosage is also an issue. Using the Zinc Taste Tally the degree of zinc deficiency can be determined. The client is asked to hold the zinc liquid in their mouth until they can taste it. The longer it takes to taste the zinc the more deficient they are. Using this very simple test a Naturopathic Nutritionist can determine the extent of the deficiency and the relevant dosage required to replete it in the body.
If the client is extremely zinc deficient a special zinc drink may be prescribed to bring zinc levels up quickly.
In an age where anti depressants have become one of the most widely prescribed drugs on the market, more and more people are asking how they can beat depression naturally to avoid the risks and side-effects associated with SSRI’s and other anti depressant drugs.
There is a strong case to support hormonal factors, diet and nutrition as being the driving force behind the widespread incidence of depression and other mental health disorders, commonly seen today.
Mounting evidence suggests that outdated diet and nutrition advice such as encouraging high carbohydrate and low fat diets is in fact, a major cause of depression. High carbohydrate diets have also been linked to heart disease, Type II diabetes and obesity. Low fat diets deplete the body of cholesterol, an essential nutrient for the nervous system and for the production of hormones such as testosterone and estrogen.
Deficiencies of these hormones produce the mental and emotional changes commonly seen in premenstrual and menopausal women and male andropause (i.e. fatigue, apathy, irritability, sadness, depression, anxiety and insomnia). Cholesterol is the building block of all hormones and low levels are very dangerous for mental and heart health.
One of the best food sources of healthy cholesterol are eggs. Egg yolks contain healthy HDL cholesterol and lethicin, which helps the body to emulsify the fat and metabolize it very easily. On top of this, eggs are a nutritional powerhouse and contain a vast array of B group vitamins essential for mood and energy, in addition to amino acids which are essential for promoting a calm and content disposition.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein foods. They are found in foods such as meat, fish, nuts and beans. One amino acid in particular, Tryptophan, is a direct precursor to serotonin, a feel good neurotransmitter in the brain often deficient in people with depression.
The best food source of this nutrient is the Alaskan Sea Lion with a massive 2,500mg of Tryptophan, but of course I’m not advocating that it be hunted because of it. A better source might be seaweed algae; Spirulina has 641mg of tryptophan. Alternatively, you can try soy protein isolate which has 660mg, frozen spinach which has 594mg or raw watercress which has 545mg.
Tryptophan as a supplement has not been available for sale in Australia for some time. However, it has recently been reintroduced to the US where it is used for weight loss and depression.
The next best thing (if dietary sources are inadequate) is a nutrient known as 5HTP.This is a direct precursor to tryptophan. This is available from your local Naturopath on prescription in a product known as Proxan. This product also contains another powerful mood enhancing nutrient known as SAMe, in addition to B vitamins. This has been known to improve mood within days without any dangerous side-effects or withdrawal symptoms commonly associated with prescription anti depressants. (Please note this cannot be taken while taking anti depressants.)
Stress is another major cause of depression today. After the adrenalin rush that accompanies a stressful event (having an argument with the dishwasher, your spouse or boss) the body releases the anti-stress hormone cortisol to calm the body down.
However, stressful events are not isolated incidents in our lives so this hormonal balancing act is taking place every waking second of your day. This can eventually lead to adrenal exhaustion and abnormally high cortisol levels. This has been clinically proven to shrink the hypothalamus, the part of the brain which governs emotions and behavior.
High cortisol levels also deplete the body of serotonin faster. However, the serotonin deficiency is really due to an excess or cortisol or too much stress.
Eating a diet with a good amount of protein spread throughout the day in addition to good quality fat (i.e. nuts, olive oil, butter, and fish oils) will go a long way towards supporting the nervous system, mental health in general and heading off depression.
