Is Your Health Depressing?

By Dr. Thomas L. Taliaferro - 2006-09-23 - Viewed 1574 times. Find more articles like this in our Supplements Information category.

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Eleven million American's are diagnosed with clinical depression annually. Contrary to popular belief, depression is not due to a deficiency in Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Wellbutrin etc. While the exact cause of depression is debatable, there are common factors we can address.

One is nutrition. We spend more on the weight loss industry than the entire world, yet we are the fattest nation in the world. Even here we have to look at how the individual nervous system functions instead of counting calories or grams of fat. The nervous system has two distinct groups responsible for digestion and metabolism. Within the autonomic (works automatically) nervous system is the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system works in what we call the "Fight or Flight" response to fear, anger, stress etc. The parasympathetic nervous system controls organ function in a normal response.

By utilizing a Dietary Needs Assessment survey in my office, we can help to determine how your nervous system works in digesting food. Diet is then directed to your particular nervous system and not a cookie cutter type of recommendation. I look at three areas, each with a sub-group to narrow down how much protein, fat and carbohydrates your body needs and then I can make a recommendation for the type of vitamin, mineral, and glyconutrient support your body needs. Food is directly related to depression. As a general rule, it's not low fat, carb, or protein that keeps your weight off. It's a low glycemic diet. One that does not produce a surge in insulin. Another simple rule is "If it's white, it's not right."

A second way to fight depression is to exercise! Now this is a concept many of you know, but choose to ignore. It's easier to open a prescription bottle than to help your body naturally. Endorphins and enkephalins are polypeptides that produce a sense of well being. These are released by physical exercise, not by stressing over children, finances, or work. These are natural substances that act like opioids. The main difference is these are natural and without side effects.

A third way to fight depression is by supplementing with glyconutrients, phytonutrients, phytosterols and anti-oxidants. Glyconutrients are the building blocks for cellular communication. On neurotransmitters such as serotonin (thought to be involved with depression), dopamine, and norepinepherine are what we call receptor sites. These receptor sites are made up of glycoproteins. Glycoproteins are also found on every cell in our body and the difference in our blood group is the terminal sugar at the end of the molecule.

We cannot consume the essential amount of the required nutrients to build properly functioning glycoproteins in our diet, which is why science has classified them as "Essential". Harper's Biochemistry was re-written in 1996 to add an entire new chapter on glycoproteins because the science was so new doctors had to re-learn their basic biochemistry. This is why your doctor does not know about glyconutrients. The eight essential glyconutrients are found with only one nutritional company. Phytosterols are the building blocks for hormone production. We have approximately 87 known hormones in our body, yet only 17 are used for reproduction. The remaining hormones are used to control and regulate many functions in our body including moods, metabolism, sleep, sex drive and more. Google glycobiology and you will find over 1 million hits with the lead being from the Journal of Glycobiology, Oxford University.

For more information on glycobiology, your immune system and to view up to 18 videos on disease specific conditions, log onto www.glyco.com/drtomt. Then select YOUR HEALTH. This one site alone, will shed light on why, other nutritional companies lacking in science can only offer you hype.

Will glyconutrients work for you? I don't know. But what if they do? Contact me for more information.

Dr. Thomas L. Taliaferro is a Doctor of Chiropractic and 2 Star National Director with Mannatech Inc. He has been the featured speaker on dozens of nutritional health calls and is a featured columnist for his local paper. Dr. Tom is available for paid lectures on glyconutrients. Contact him at www.glyco.com/drtomt.

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