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The real truth: antidepressants actually deplete these 3 crucial nutrients for the brain

November 14, 2016

bostontestosterone Men's Health, Women's Health antidepressants, coq10, core medical group, core new england, magnesium, men's health, minerals, thyroid, vitamins, women's health Leave a comment

If you try to cheat nature, it will backfire.

By managing symptoms with synthetic man-made drugs, you may feel better for a while.

But once you stop those drugs, you will end up with more symptoms than you started with.

I experienced this firsthand.

When I took antidepressants, I felt better initially.

But then something just didn’t feel right.

I started suffering from cognitive decline, something I hadn’t experienced before.

I eventually got fed up with the medication and tried getting off them.

 But then I felt remarkably worse – much worse than I did before starting the medication.

Doctors simply told me I was experiencing a relapse of my depression and anxiety.

But that couldn’t be it, because not only were my symptoms much worse, but I also had new symptoms – symptoms I didn’t experience before I went on medication.

So, I did some research and discovered something called “drug-induced nutrient depletion”.

Studies show that pharmaceutical drugs can deplete your body of critical nutrients through multiple mechanisms, including increased excretion of nutrients, and impaired digestion, absorption and storage of nutrients. Over time, nutritional deficiencies can develop. And these deficiencies can cause additional symptoms and increase side effects. In fact, many drug “side effects” are simply nutritional deficiencies.

This is clearly a problem because nutrient deficiencies can be one of the main causes of mental illness. Being prescribed medication that further deplete nutrients from your body will make you worse. It’s an epidemic that seems to be ignored by the conventional medical system.

You may even develop new symptoms or side effects months or years after starting a medication because it takes time for nutrients to be depleted from your body. So both you and your doctor may not make the connection between the original medication and new symptoms.

These additional symptoms and “side effects” are often diagnosed as a new disease, leading to a new prescription, which further depletes nutrients.

So it’s clearly a downward spiral where you could end up being on multiple medications.

At my worst, I was on four psychiatric medications. Thankfully I’m off them all now and very healthy.

This article discusses the three key nutrients that are commonly depleted by psychiatric medication.

Your drug package insert won’t list these deficiencies, and your doctor is likely not aware of them.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Coenzyme Q10 is a molecule found in every cell of your body and plays a key role in the production of energy.

It’s also an antioxidant and protects your body and brain from free radical damage.

Higher levels of CoQ10 have a “significant antidepressant effect” in rats because of its “well-documented antioxidant effect”. This makes sense considering the increasing amount of scientific literature suggesting that oxidative stress contributes to depression.

Unfortunately, studies show that a number of psychiatric medications, including antidepressants and antipsychotics, deplete CoQ10.

Low levels of CoQ10 can cause brain fog, mental fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, depression and irritability.

Other deficiency symptoms can include increased blood pressure, muscle cramps, high blood sugar, and shortness of breath.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a vital mineral that participates in more than 300 biochemical reactions in your body. This includes neurotransmitter, enzyme, and hormonal activity, all of which can have a huge effect on your mood and brain function.

It’s one of the most important nutrients for optimal brain health, and reduces anxiety, depression and irritability. Yet, many people are deficient in magnesium today and may experience the following symptoms because of it:

Increased blood pressure
Muscle weakness, cramps, tremors, and spasms
Headaches and migraines
Insomnia
Suicidal thoughts
Heart arrhythmias
Osteoporosis
Nausea

Interestingly, these symptoms sound very similar to the list of side effects of some psychiatric medications.

In fact, research has shown that many antidepressants and stimulants do deplete magnesium from your body, increasing the likeliness of developing a deficiency.

Inadequate magnesium levels can then contribute and worsen many neuropsychiatric problems. This includes depression, anxiety, insomnia, seizures, ADHD, pain, schizophrenia, irritability, premenstrual syndrome, drug abuse, and short-term memory and IQ loss. Case studies have shown that patients with schizophrenia or major depression who have attempted suicide had significantly lower levels of magnesium in their cerebrospinal fluid.

So if you have mental health condition, or take medication to deal with it, you should consider supplementing with magnesium.

Also, you should make sure to eat lots of food with magnesium, including avocados, almonds, pumpkin seeds, swiss chard, spinach, dark chocolate, halibut and beets.

B Vitamins

A number of B vitamins are also depleted by psychiatric medication, including B2, B6, B12 and folate.

Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, plays a key role in energy metabolism throughout your entire body.

As a result, a deficiency can affect the entire body, leading to low energy, weight gain, and skin and thyroid problems.

Antipsychotics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and mood stabilizers can inhibit the absorption of vitamin B2, increasing your need for supplementation.

Lower levels of vitamin B2 have been found in people with depression, so giving them psychiatric medications can actually make them feel worse in the long run.

Healthy food sources of riboflavin include pastured eggs, leafy vegetables, beef liver, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, and almonds.

Vitamin B6 is another key nutrient that boosts mood, deepens sleep, and supports your entire nervous system.

It accomplishes this by playing a key role in the production of many neurotransmitters in your brain, including serotonin, GABA and dopamine.

But since psychiatric medications alter these neurotransmitters, vitamin B6 levels can be affected as well.

When I took antidepressants, multiple functional and integrative doctors suggested I supplement with vitamin B6.

This is because antidepressants and benzodiazepines have been shown to deplete B6.

Symptoms of deficiency include weakness, mental confusion, depression, insomnia and severe PMS symptoms.

Some of the best food sources of B6 include potatoes, bananas and chicken.

Lastly, vitamin B12 and folate are essential B vitamins that play a key role in methylation, one of the most important processes in your body and brain for optimal energy and nervous system function.

If you are depressed, you likely have lower levels of B12 and folate circulating in your blood, and people with low blood folate and B12 are at greater risk for developing depression.

Yet, instead of looking at folate and B12 levels in the blood, doctors often prescribe antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants and mood stabilizers that have been shown to deplete folate and B12.

B12 and folate deficiency can lead to an inability to methylate properly and increased homocysteine levels. This can worsen your depression, irritability, fatigue, confusion and forgetfulness.

Good dietary sources of natural folate include leafy greens, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries. B12 is found primarily in animal foods, and beef liver is a good source.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that the medication that you take to manage your mental health can actually reduce nutrient absorption and rob your body and brain of essential vitamins and minerals. This can lead to unwanted side effects and declining health.

On top of this, vitamin and mineral deficiencies are actually a huge underlying cause of mental health issues to begin with.

Luckily, you can avoid side effects, and even control and overcome chronic mental disease without medication, by restoring these missing nutrients.

Unfortunately, in my case, I was given a prescription that made my underlying deficiencies worse, and dug me into a deeper mental health hole.

If you’re required to take a prescribed drug, you can offset many of the side effects and experience much better health by supplementing with the above nutrients.

So why isn’t this information passed on to patients who are taking psychiatric drugs? Because unfortunately, almost all doctors are unaware that medications can deplete nutritional reserves.

So, for now, you’ll just have to be aware of drug-nutrient depletions yourself.

Sources:

Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook
The Nutritional Cost of Prescription Drugs
The Side Effects Bible: The Dietary Solution to Unwanted Side Effects of Common Medications
A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition: Improve Your Health and Avoid Side Effects When Using Common Medications and Natural Supplements Together
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8219648
https://tantor-site-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/bonus-content/B0592_DrugMuggers/B0592_DrugMuggers_PDF_1.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7728363
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9155210
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https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/melatonin
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Article Source: http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/antidepressants-side-effects.html

This fantastic article was written by Jordan Fallis, a brain health journalist and biohacker. We encourage you to ckeck out his website here

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Ashwagandha Benefits Thyroid and Adrenals

May 18, 2016

bostontestosterone Uncategorized adrenal fatigue, ashwagandha, boston testosterone, core medical group, core new england, hormones, men's health, thyroid, women's health Leave a comment

If you are looking to restore your energy, look younger, and reverse disease then ashwagandha may be the herb you’re looking for. As you’re about to see, ashwagandha benefits are impressive.

Ashwagandha, is an adaptogenic herb popular in Ayurvedic medicine that has shown incredible results for lowering cortisol and balancing thyroid hormones.

In India, ashwagandha is known as the “strength of the stallion” since it has traditionally been used to strengthen the immune system after illness.

Ashwagandha has also been referred to as Indian ginseng because of its ability to enhance stamina and has extraordinary stress relieving properties.

There have been over 200 studies on Ashwagandha’s ability to:

Improve thyroid function

Treat adrenal fatigue
Reduce anxiety and depression
Combat effects of stress

Increase stamina and endurance

Prevent and treat cancer

Reduce brain cell degeneration
Stabilize blood sugar
Lower cholesterol
Boost immunity

In this article I’m going to discuss the benefits of ashwagandha in healing your thyroid, adrenal glands, improving mood and energy, preventing cancer, and supporting brain health.

Ashwagandha Thyroid Benefits

Ashwagandha is a superstar when it comes to improving the health of your thyroid. Scientists don’t completely understand how adaptogens work, but we know that they can be extremely effective especially at balancing hormones.

One of the most incredible aspects about adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha is that it can help people with both hypo and hyper thyroid issues. It has been shown to support a sluggish thyroid for people diagnosed with Hashimotos, and has been shown to improve the health of those with an overactive thyroid or Graves disease.

Adaptogenic herbs work with your body to bring you back into balance whether your levels are high or low.

Animal studies reveal ashwagandha has a thyroid hormone balancing effect. In a 20 days study mice were give ashwagandha and their T3 and T4 levels were analyzed along with lipid peroxidation (anti-oxidant protection). Significant increases in serum T4 were found which indicates this herb has a stimulatory effect on a sluggish thyroid.

Also, ashwagandha may benefit thyroid function because it greatly reduced lipid peroxidation by promoting scavenging of free radicals that cause cellular damage. These results prove ashwagandha can be useful in treating hypothyroidism.

There are currently millions of people who struggle with thyroid problems (many who don’t even know it) and ashwagandha may just be the solution they are searching for.

Ashwagandha Adrenal Rejuvenation

Ashwagandha has also been proven effective in supporting adrenal function helping you overcome adrenal fatigue and chronic stress.

Your adrenal glands are endocrine glands that are responsible for releasing hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) in response to stress on your body.

If your adrenals are overtaxed due to an overabundance of emotional, physical and mental stress, it can lead to a condition known as adrenal fatigue. As you can see from this chart below, if your adrenals become exhausted it can also disrupt your other hormones, including progesterone, which can cause infertility and lower DHEA — which can cause you to age faster.
diagram

Medical studies have shown that ashwagandha improves cortisol levels, improves insulin sensitivity and naturally balances hormones. A case study reported a case of a 57-year-old woman with non-classical adrenal hyperplasia. She was treated with ashwagandha for six months, and after her treatment she saw improvements in four adrenal hormone markers, including corticoosterone and 11-deoxycortisol, which decreased by 69 percent and 55 percent respectively — a major improvement!

This hormonal improvement was also accompanied by a noticeable reduction in hair loss.

Benefits Brain Health

Emotional, physical, and chemical stress can all have damaging effects to the brain and nervous system. Recent research has proven ashwagandha is more than a stress reliever, it also protects the brain from degeneration and improves symptoms of alzheimer’s, depression, and anxiety.

One of the main reasons ashwagandha is so effective at healing the brain has to do with its powerful antioxidants that destroy free radicals that cause aging. A study published inPhytotherapy Research explains these benefits:

“Several studies have revealed that natural antioxidants, such as vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene, may help in scavenging free radicals generated during the initiation and progression of this [Alzheimer’s] disease. But we found Ashwagandha afforded lipid peroxidation inhibitory effects more potent than commercial antioxidants.”

Researchers at the National Brain Research Centre found that mice with Alzheimer’s were unable to retain what they learned, but after 20 days of supplementing with ashwagandha, this improved significantly. The results of the study found a reduction in amyloid plaques (these cause degradation of the brain).

Improves Mood

There is also now evidence that ashwagandha is effective at treating both anxiety and depression. In fact, in a recent study its results were comparable to common pharmaceutical drugs lorazepam and imipramine without the side effects.

In the 12-week controlled study, 87 participants with anxiety were given 300mg of ashwagandha two times a day or two placebo pills two times per day. The group treated with ashwagandha resulted in much greater improvements in anxiety as well as focus, reduced stress, and decreased fatigue than the placebo group.

The other major benefit of ashwagandha is that there are no adverse reactions by taking it compared to anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications which can have terrible side effects.

Prevents and Treats Cancer

Ashwagandha extract has been shown in studies to have very promising benefits when it comes to helping with preventing and treating cancer. In certain studies, researchers have found that ashwagandha extract has a powerful anti-tumor effect. (1)

The extract has been shown to help inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells – specifically breast, lung, stomach, and colon cancer cells which are among some of the leading types of cancers in the world. It’s believed that ashwagandha helps to prevent the growth of cancer cells mostly due to its immune boosting and antioxidant abilities. Supplementing with ashwagandha is correlated with an increase in white blood cells within the body, which indicate that the immune system is better able to protect the body from disease and harmful invaders (2). Another way that ashwagnadha helps prevent cancer is due to its ability to stop blood vessels around cancer cells from feeding into the growth of cancerous tumors.

In addition to preventing cancer cells from growing, studies have shown that ashwagandha can be a very useful addition to chemotherapy in treating existing cancer. Taking the extract seems to be effective in halting the immune system from becoming suppressed during chemotherapy.

Ashawagandha is able to counteract one of the biggest concerns with chemotherapy- the count of white blood cells in the body becoming lowered, which puts cancer patients as much higher risk for things like infection. Many cancer experts are now recommending ashwagandha extract be both a cancer prevention method as well as an addition to typical cancer treatments. In fact some studies have shown that some patients are even able to reverse signs of cancer using ashwagandha alone over other standard treatment methods (3).

Increases Stamina and Endurance

Studies have shown that ahswagandha can boost endurance during physical activity by sharpening brain function and reducing bodily pain. Due to its positive calming, yet energizing, effects on the brain and ability to lower stress hormones, ashwaganha showed improvements in concentration, motivation, and stamina in conducted studies.

One particular study found that when lab rats were given ashwagandha, they actually were able to swim twice as long compared to the same type of rats that were not given the supplements (4). Researchers believe that similar effects take place in humans due to the extract’s ability to balance adrenal hormones that are involved in physical activity. The extract was also shown to reduce bodily pain in the muscles and joints while at the same time keeping energy levels more steady, which is another reason why it could be a promising supplement for athletes, or for those who find it difficult to be physically active due to pain.

Ashwagandha Dosage

As you can see, ashwagandha is an adaptogenic superstar that can have some tremendous health benefits. I recommend supplementing with 500mg 1-2x daily along with following a diet high in healthy fats, protein, and fiber as well as removing grains and sugars from your diet.

These dietary changes along with supplementing with ashwagandha can help you see great results in aging slower, reducing stress, balancing hormones, boosting energy, and improving neurological health.

References
Puri, Harbans Singh. Rasayana: ayurvedic herbs for longevity and rejuvenation – Volume 2 of Traditional herbal medicines for modern times. s.l.: CRC Press, 2002. ISBN 0415284899, 9780415284899.

Panda S, Kar A. Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea in the regulation of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in female mice. Journal Ethnopharmacology 1999, 67(2):233-9.

Panda S, Kar A. Changes in thyroid hormone concentrations after administration of ashwaganda root extract to adult male mice. Journal of Pharmacology 1998, 50:1065-1068.

Kalani A, Bahtiyar G, Sacerdote A. Ashwagandha root in the treatment of non-classical adrenal hyperplasia. British Medical Journal Case Reports 2012, 10(1136).

Gupta SK, Dua A, Vohra BP. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) attenuates antioxidant defense in aged spinal cord and inhibits copper induced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidative modifications. Drug Metabolism Drug Interactions. 2003;19(3):211-22

Jayaprakasam B, Padmanabhan K, Nair MG. Withanamides in Withania somnifera fruit protect PC-12 cells from beta-amyloid responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. Phytotherapy Research. 2010, 24(6):859-63

Cooley K, Szczurko O, Mills Edward, Bernhardt B, Seely D (2009). Naturopathic Care for Anxiety. http://www.plosone.org

Article Source: http://draxe.com/ashwagandha-proven-to-heal-thyroid-and-adrenals/

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Thyroid and Gut Connection

October 6, 2015

bostontestosterone Uncategorized boston testosterone, core medical group, core new england, digestion, health, stomach, thyroid Leave a comment

Many studies as of late have been showing a strong connection between the gut and other parts of the body. One such connection is the gut-mind connection, which reveals how emotions and stress can trigger health problems in our gut. Recent studies have revealed a connection between the thyroid and the gut.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that assists many bodily functions. The gut – or the gastrointestinal tract – is a long tube that moves food from our mouths through the digestive system. Because the thyroid is responsible for hormones and regulating parts of the body, there is a link between the two.

Link between thyroid gland and digestion

A common form of thyroiditis – inflammation of the thyroid – is Hashimoto’s disease. In this form of thyroiditis theimmune system attacks the thyroid gland causing hypothyroidism. When this occurs, the amount of hormones released by the thyroid gland is reduced and growth and mental development slows. Poor digestion can trigger Hashimoto’s disease.

Problems with the gut may occur when the lining becomes permeable. This allows for food waste to enter the body instead
of, well, into the toilet. When this foreign material enters the body, the immune response is to attack it.

The thyroid plays a role as it produces the hormones that protects the gut. T3 and T4 are thyroid hormones that work to make the gut strong, for example they can work to prevent stress-induced ulcers. In endoscopic examinations of ulcers, researchers found low levels of T3 and T4, meaning without them the gut becomes weaker.

The gut relies on the thyroid for protection and the thyroid needs the gut to stay strong and fight off illness.

6 natural ways to keep the thyroid-gut connection strong

If you want to ensure you maintain a healthy thyroid-gut connection, it’s important to take necessary steps to keep both happy and healthy. Below are natural ways to encourage a healthy thyroid-gut connection:

Manage stress and blood sugar
Recognize any food intolerances – common food intolerances are dairy, wheat and gluten
Consume fiber
Stay hydrated
Eat foods that contain gut-friendly bacteria – yogurt, kefir, pickles, miso etc.
Exercise.

These tips can help improve the health of your gut and thyroid alike. If you feel that you may have a thyroid or digestion problem, speak with your doctor. Living well is the easiest way to boost the thyroid-gut connection and prevent a serious disorder from developing.

The real cause of stomach pain

If you’re suffering from stomach pain, gas, diarrhea, constipation or other digestive symptoms, you most likely take antacids, painkillers or laxatives.

As you might already know, these measures will only help you temporarily. You need relief that’s long lasting. Thanks to recent scientific breakthroughs, you can now address the real cause of stomach pain and help get freedom from your digestive problems with a natural supplement.

This supplement helps to heal the stomach and protect it from bad bacteria that destroys the stomach lining. Studies show that the principal ingredient in this formula helped reduce abdominal distress in 87% of the people who took it.

By: Bel Marra Health | Colon And Digestive | Saturday, July 25, 2015 – 16:32 Source: http://www.belmarrahealth.com/thyroid-and-gut-connection/

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12 FOODS YOU SHOULD EAT TO MANAGE HYPOTHYROIDISM (AND 9 TO NEVER EAT)

September 11, 2015

bostontestosterone Uncategorized boston testosterone, core medical group, core new england, diet, energy, health, thyroid Leave a comment

You eat for energy, you eat for strong bones, you eat for brain-boosting benefits and you eat to improve your heart. But do you eat a diet that would benefit your thyroid? More so, if you already have been diagnosed with a thyroid problem, like hypothyroidism, do you know what you should be eating and what you should be avoiding?

Our thyroid is often overlooked unless a doctor raises concerns about it. Although you may not think about it much it plays a major role in producing hormones and regulating our metabolism. When this process is thrown off it can cause hypothyroidism.

What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is a disruption in the normal processes carried out by the thyroid. Production of hormones reduces which can lead to weight gain, constipation, changes in skin – becoming too dry – fatigue and even depression.

Hypothyroidism can occur if the thyroid is removed through surgery, stress or simply if it stops functioning as normal.

The good news is hypothyroidism is manageable and one way to do so is through diet.

Hypothyroidism and diet

Just as our body requires nutrients for it to function properly, so does the thyroid either. This is why hypothyroidism and diet is so important for proper management.

There are certain types of food which are best for hypothyroidism. They are iodine rich foods and selenium rich foods. Before we outline foods for hypothyroidism let’s discuss the importance of iodine and selenium.

Iodine is required for the normal functioning of the thyroid so when the thyroid is under-performing, boosting iodine can help it. Iodine-rich foods may aid in symptoms associated with hypothyroidism and assist your metabolism. Selenium is also highly beneficial for your thyroid as it aids in the production of hormones making your thyroid not have to work as hard.

Now that we understand the role of iodine and selenium in addressing hypothyroidism, let’s outline

Foods that you should eat if you have hypothyroidism

Meat
Chicken
Salmon
Tuna
Whole unrefined grains
Iodized salt
Seaweed
Nuts
Dairy products
Garlic
Onions
Beans and legumes
Fruits and vegetables.

Eating foods to help hypothyroidism can benefit your overall good health as well. Eating them daily can help boost the health of your thyroid and make living with hypothyroidism manageable and easier to live with.

On the other hand, there are foods you should avoid as they can worsen symptoms and the condition itself.

Foods to avoid with hypothyroidism

Many of the foods to avoid with hypothyroidism are common foods that should generally be avoided or limited as they do not contribute to good health. These items are:

Soy: Soy can interfere with hormones, especially in women.
Cruciferous vegetables: Generally food items like broccoli and cabbage are recommended for healthy eating but not if you have hypothyroidism. This type of food can interfere with the production of thyroid hormones.
Gluten: Although commonly avoided by those with Celiac disease gluten should also be avoided if you have hypothyroidism.
Fatty food: Fatty foods may interrupt the absorption of thyroid medications
Sugary foods: With an already slower metabolism adding sugary foods will lead to greater weight gain.
Processed foods: Hypothyroidism can result in individual’s having higher blood pressure so the added salts from processed foods will only worsen this.
Too much fiber: Fiber is good to keep us regular but not in the case of those with hypothyroidism.
Coffee: You may have to cut back on your morning coffee. Caffeine can limit the absorption of thyroid hormone replacement medications.
Alcohol: Alcohol can disrupt the production of thyroid hormones and reduce the body’s ability to utilize these hormones.

Hypothyroidism symptoms

If you’ve already been diagnosed with hypothyroidism then you are now aware of the best foods for hypothyroidism. If you have concerns about your thyroid but haven’t gotten it checked out yet this is a list of the symptoms you may be experiencing.

Thinning hair
Depression
Weight gain
Constipation
Dry skin
Memory fog
Weakness of muscles
Elevated blood pressure
Pain, stiffness or swelling of joints
Slowed heart rate
Changes in menstrual cycle
Elevated blood cholesterol
Sensitivity to cold.

These symptoms, although part of hypothyroidism, are also quite common among other illnesses. Speak to your doctor and get your thyroid checked to know for sure.

Living with hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is something you can live with. Along with medications, a hypothyroidism diet can greatly improve your everyday life and assist your thyroid. Enjoying these foods to help hypothyroidism is a great way to boost iodine and selenium – both essential for a healthy thyroid. Lastly, ensuring you’re not consuming the foods to avoid for hypothyroidism can help you feel better in the long run and make your thyroid hormone replacement that much more effective.

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