Tag: diet

Mood Disorders and the Gut

HI, Scott here. While I am on holidays from UNI I have decided to write a post for our blog.

Since my studies are focused on treating anxiety, depression and PTSD what better subject to start with.

None of these conditions are simple or simple to treat. First is to identify which mood disorder followed by identifying the cause.

There are many reasons people suffer from a mood disorder. It may have been triggered by a traumatic experience or a result of poor dietary practices. Trauma does not need to be a specific event. It could be a result of a series of things that have built up to have a cumulative effect. Just as diet doesn’t need to be recent, it could be that a persons diet as a child was lacking which has had long lasting effect the body.

So, what to do about it,

My belief is that a multi-pronged approach is needed. This will mean lifestyle and diet changes with the addition of some specific, medicinal herbs and counselling.

For some it may also mean accepting that things will not be the same as they were before. When we say “I just wish that I could be the way I was when” this may not be possible simply because life changes us every day we live it. Equally, this does not mean that we need to go through life suffering or causing pain to those who love us.

The body is an amazing thing that conventional medicine thinks of as a machine but in my view is so much more than that.

The way the bodies systems work with each other, is like a giant 3D jigsaw that is in constant motion. Its just incredible to think that it is continually changing shape, growing and shedding all the time. This also means that by giving the body what it needs actually helps the body and mind to heal itself.

How does this work?

Primarily, the work is done in the gut or microbiome. This process is truly fascinating and has become my passion.

There are many scientific papers that discuss the importance of the microbiome and its effect on our mood and personality. A 2016 article in “The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry” looks at the influence of the microbiota on the development of PTSD with some interesting results. By looking at how gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Dopamine and GABA.

Put simply, what we eat directly affects the structure and function of the brain and, ultimately, our mood. Few people are aware of the connection between nutrition and depression. It is easier to understand the connection between nutritional deficiencies and physical illness.

Depression is more typically thought of as strictly biochemical or emotionally based. However, science has discovered that nutrition can play a key role in the onset as well as severity and duration of depression. There are actually more neurotransmitters produced in the gut than in the brain.

Like an expensive car, the brain functions best when it gets only premium fuel. Eating high-quality foods that contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes the brain.

Diets high in refined sugars, for example, are harmful to the brain. Multiple studies have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugars and impaired brain function and a worsening of symptoms of mood disorders.

What does all this mean for people suffering with a mood disorder?

It means when reaching for that soft drink, cheeseburger or deep fried snack. Take a moment to think about your mental health and the effect that your diet may have on it.

Identifying a diet that has a positive effect on mental health is a whole other subject, however, a whole food diet is going to be most beneficial. This means that if you can’t identify what you are eating, chances are it’s not doing you, or your mental health any favours.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

(Sources –
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience –
Harvard Medical School – 
US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health )

A Bit about Gout

Todays post is about Gout.

Scott and I were recently discussing this condition that affects many people. There are many theories around what it is and how it is contracted.

So, here are some facts.

Gout was historically known as “the disease of kings” or “rich man’s disease”. It has been recognised at least since the time of the ancient Egyptians.

Gout affects about 1 to 2% of the Western population at some point in their lives. It has become more common in recent decades. This is believed to be due to increasing risk factors in the population, such as metabolic syndrome, longer life expectancy, and changes in diet

What is Gout?

Gout is actually a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by crystals that form in and around the joints. The crystals result from high levels of urate in the body. It is a condition caused by a build-up of uric acid and the body does not flush out the crystals fast enough. This build-up usually affects your feet. If you have gout, you’ll probably feel swelling and pain in the joints of your foot, particularly your big toe. Sudden and intense pain, or gout attacks, can make it feel like your foot is on fire.

What is Urate?

Urate is found in all people, in small amounts in our blood. Our bodies make it every day by breaking down natural substances called purines. Purines are found in our bodies’ cells, as well as some of the foods we eat. Our kidneys usually remove any excess urate from our blood into our urine. However, people with gout have higher-than-normal amounts of urate in their bodies. This can be a result of:

  • our bodies producing too much urate and/or
  • the kidneys being unable to get rid of it quickly enough (this is the main reason for high urate levels in more than nine out of ten people with gout).

If urate levels remain high, it starts to form small crystals in and around the joints. These crystals form slowly, over months or even years, usually without any symptoms. A gout flare up occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the crystals. The crystals still remain in the joint(s) even after the pain settles.

You’re more likely to get gout if you:

*are a middle-aged man or postmenopausal woman

*have parents, siblings, or other family members with gout

*drink alcohol

*take medications such as diuretics and cyclosporine

*if you have a kidney or thyroid problem, or an inherited disorder, can make it harder for your body to remove excess uric acid.

In some people with gout, diet is the cause.

How can diet contribute?

Certain foods are naturally high in purines, which your body breaks down into uric acid. Most people don’t have a problem with high-purine foods. But if your body has trouble releasing excess uric acid, you may want to avoid certain foods and drinks, such as some red and organ meats, certain seafood and alcohol.

Some sugar-sweetened beverages and foods containing fructose can also be problematic, even though they don’t contain purines.

There is however, evidence from studies suggesting that certain foods help can reduce uric acid levels in the body. They are – tart cherries, magnesium, ginger, apple cider vinegar, celery, nettle tea, dandelion and milk thistle seeds.

But simply eating these foods may not be enough to control gout

If left untreated, gout can eventually lead to arthritis. Hard lumps called tophi can eventually develop in your joints and the skin and soft tissue surrounding them. These deposits can permanently damage your joints.

If you think your may be suffering with gout, it is important to seek advise from your chosen health professional.

Moving forward

The only way to diagnose gout with certainty is by your doctor finding urate crystals in fluid taken from your joint. Uric acid levels can also be measured by blood tests, however these are not always accurate. However, blood tests are useful in ruling out other causes for your symptoms, such as joint infections or other forms of arthritis.

The treatment plan recommended will depend on the stage and severity of your gout.

I hope you found this information helpful.

Till the next post,

 

Live clean n Prosper

Sources – Healthline, Arthritis Australia, Wikipedia

A bit about Hemochromatosis

Todays post is about a condition called Hemochromatosis. A topic I was discussing recently with a colleague.

Interestingly, this condition is usually considered a blood disorder, however it seems a little more complicated than that.

So what is Hemochromatosis?

Also known as Inherited Iron Overload Disorder, is caused by gene mutations.
This means that usually hemochromatosis is hereditary. There are however, some cases where the condition can be a result of another illness.
Only a small number of people who have the gene mutation develop serious problems.

Our body has specific genes that regulate the absorption, transport and storage of iron. The mutated genes impair the intestines control of the absorption of iron from foods during digestion. They alter the distribution of the iron to other parts of the body. As a result, the amount of total body iron is increased.

Because the human body cannot increase the excretion of iron, the iron accumulates. Too much iron can be toxic and over time the buildup causes damage. The liver, heart, pancreas, endocrine glands, and joints are the organs most affected.

What are the symptoms?

Hereditary hemochromatosis is actually present at birth, however some people with the condition never have symptoms. Many early signs and symptoms often overlap with those of other common conditions.

Most people don’t experience signs and symptoms until later in life. Usually after the age of 40 in men and after age 60 in women. Women are more likely to develop symptoms after menopause. This is because they no longer lose iron with menstruation and pregnancy.

Early symptoms of the condition may include extreme tiredness and fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain, weight loss, and loss of sex drive. As the condition worsens, affected individuals may develop arthritis, liver disease (cirrhosis) or liver cancer, diabetes, heart abnormalities, or skin discolouration.

Environmental and lifestyle factors such as the amount of iron in the diet, alcohol use, and other illnesses can affect the severity of the symptoms.

How is it treated?

Doctors diagnose hemochromatosis based on blood tests to check levels of iron and certain proteins in the blood. Followed by checks for gene mutations that commonly cause hemochromatosis. In some cases, doctors may also use a liver biopsy to confirm iron overload is present.

Treatment includes regularly removing blood from your body. Because much of the body’s iron is contained in the red blood cells, this treatment lowers iron levels.

The amount of blood removed and how often it’s removed depend on several factors. A persons age, overall health and the severity of iron overload all have an impact.

Dietary changes are also recommended to reduce iron intake. Within our diet we consume two types of iron: heme iron, which is contained in meat and non-heme iron, which is contained in plants and supplements. Heme iron is the most easily absorbed, whereas non-heme is absorbed less well.
Calcium is the only known substance that can impair the absorption of both heme and non-heme iron. Whereas eggs, fibre and the tannins found in coffee, tea and chocolate impair absorption of non-heme iron.

Recommended dietary changes can include:

  •  avoiding supplements that contain iron and vitamin C
  •  reducing iron-rich and iron-fortified foods
  •  reduce red meat intake
  •  alcohol intake,
  •  avoiding uncooked fish and shellfish

If you’re concerned about your iron levels, reach out to your doctor and start with a blood test.

I hope that you found this information interesting.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

Sources – U.S. National Library of Medicine,
Mayo Clinic, Davidson’s Principles & Practice of Medicine,
Haemochromatosis AustraliaOu-