Melody Petersen
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 In 2005, for example, Johnson & Johnson discussed brain chemicals on a website promoting its drug Con-certa. Under the heading "Science Made Simple," the company claimed its drug worked this way: "The Cerebellum, Basal Ganglia, and the Prefrontal Cortex are rich in brain chemicals (norepinephrine and dopamine) that impact emotion, behavior, thinking, and attention skills, which are related to ADHD. Medications like Concerta help restore brain chemical communications to more normal levels. |
Bottom Line Health
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| Exertion spurs the release of endorphins, natural opiate-like brain chemicals that evoke feelings of pleasure. It interrupts the cascade of negative thoughts that perpetuate anxiety and depression. Regular exercise may also raise levels of brain chemicals that promote the growth of new brain cells.
Exercise intensity matters less than regularity. Aim to walk briskly, run, cycle or swim for at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week.
Wayne Dyer's Simple Plan For a Stress-Free Life
Wayne W. Dyer, PhD, renowned thinker and speaker in the field of self-development. |
| Drugs that work on other brain chemicals instead of, or in addition to, serotonin include bupropion (Wellbutrin), venlafaxine (Effexor), mirtazapine(Remeron) and the newest, duloxe-tine (Cymbalta), which was introduced in 2004.
FINDING THE RIGHT MEDICATION
Individuals respond differently to antidepressants. You may do better on Drug A while another person does better on Drug B. This is largely due to differences in individual biology. Any antidepressant will substantially relieve symptoms in approximately two-thirds of the people who take it. |
| Thomas Wadden, director of the Weight and Eating Disorders Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, says these changes, along with a healthy diet and physical activity, "help you modify the external environment," while drugs such as Meridia "help modify the internal environment," working on brain chemicals to lower appetite and help patients feel fuller, sooner.
The combination seems to work. |
Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C. with Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D.
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 Many brain chemicals directly impact an individual's romance with sugar. Dopamine is the final common pathway in terms of the brain's reward center." According to Dr. Blum, "one-third of the U.S. population has a gene variant that causes low dopamine," a phenomenon he calls "Reward Deficiency Syndrome" (RDS).
Brains of the Obese Look Like Those of Drug Addicts
Addiction researchers Nora D. Volkow,. M.D., and Gene-Jack Wang, M.D., also found a dopamine-addiction-sugar connection. |
| Blood Sugar's Role in Bringing on the Blues
At the same time that sugar and much-like-sugar carbs are affecting our brain chemicals, they're also affecting our blood sugar levels. So neurotransmitters and blood sugar rise in tandem, creating a temporary euphoria, but then they also drop simultaneously—and drop us into depression.
But that depression doesn't occur with everyone, points out Dr. Chris-tensen. "The dropping of blood sugar levels does trigger depression in some people," explains Dr. Christensen, who conducted numerous studies on the mood-food relationship. |
Jack Challem
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 If you're in love, brain chemicals create a sense of euphoria similar to a drug-induced high. In contrast, the rapid heartbeat and fear you experience when you see flashing police lights results from a near-instant rush of adrenaline, a powerful hormone and neurotransmitter.
Remember, all of our neurotransmitters are influenced by what we eat. They depend on vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fats, and a small amount of high-quality carbohydrates.
How Are Men and Women Different in Their Moods and Behavior?
Men and women have obvious biological differences. |
| Your body needs vitamins, protein, and other nutrients to make the brain chemicals that help you think clearly, maintain a good mood, and act in socially acceptable ways. I use the term neuronutrients to describe these important components of food. In later chapters, I'll explain how you can use specific neuronutrients as part of a broader plan to improve your mood and behavior.
It's important, however, that I emphasize that nutrition is not the only factor affecting your moods. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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 Amino acids are converted into brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that control mood. "Alcoholics and drug addicts are often so depleted of amino acids that they can't create these neurotransmitters, leading to depression, hostile and aggressive behavior, confusion, anxiety, and paranoia," says Mathews-Larson. |
Jack Challem
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| Physical activity increases the production of endorphins, brain chemicals that enhance mood.
• Physical activity improves how your body uses insulin and glucose, which lessens mood swings.
• Physical activity increases muscle, which is the best type of tissue for burning glucose and fat.
• Physical activity speeds up the metabolic rate—that is, the speed of biochemical reactions in cells. These reactions stimulate the production of necessary chemicals throughout the body and the removal of waste products from cells. |
Joan Liebmann-Smith, Ph. D., and Jacqueline Nardi Egan
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 Some scientists believe that yawning helps us become more alert by taking in oxygen; others say it's due to changes in emotion-related brain chemicals; still others think it helps regulate body temperature. They all tend to agree, however, that yawning does boost blood pressure and heart rate. According to anecdotal evidence, some athletes have been known to habitually yawn before a competition and paratroopers to do so before a jump.
Most of the time, yawning is a benign, if rather boring, activity. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 REPPED: You are about to generate $50,000 worth of healthy brain chemicals. How do I know? Because I'm enticing you to click on the link below which will bring up a unique animated image. This image, by connecting to your brain through your eyes, will cause your brain to instantly generate enormous amounts of positive brain chemistry. If you had to buy this chemistry from a pharmaceutical company, it might cost you $50,000. But you can generate it for free, right now, by simply clicking this link: http://www.newstarget.com/gallery/articles/Hilarious_Dance.gif
(It's true. |
| This image is worth at least $50,000 in happy brain chemicals. Don't believe me? Click it yourself and see...)
It's perfectly safe to click the link above. I promise. Your brain can't wait to find out how fun this image is going to be! Go ahead, click it now. Why wait?
Note that this image will also increase the oxygenation of your body by causing you to rapidly inhale and exhale during the process of laughter. This boosts brain function, immune function and even the circulation of lymph fluids throughout your body.
Laughter is powerful medicine. |
Sophie D. Coe and Michael D. Coe
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 Serotonin is a mood-lifting hormone produced naturally by the brain; phenylethylamine is similar to other mood-changing brain chemicals. Future research may show whether there is any truth in the claims that chocolate has an aphrodisiac effect. Its reputation as an aphrodisiac goes back as far as the European conquest of Mexico, but the reader should stop to consider if there has ever been a consumable substance that has not had this reputation at some time in some place.
Two of the substances mentioned by Dr. |
Charles Barber
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 Valenstein, "Why do all the drugs all deal with the same brain chemicals? Is it because those four neurotransmitters are the ones understood to be most implicated with mood and thought regulation—i.e., the stuff of psychiatric disorders?"
"It's entirely a historical accident," he said. "The first psychiatric drugs were stumbled upon in the dark, completely serendipitously. No one, least of all the people who discovered them, had any idea how they worked. It was only later that the science caught up and provided evidence that those drugs influence those particular neurotransmitters. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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| Regardless of its effect on other brain chemicals, supplemental 5-HTP surely increases serotonin, and because of that, has a calming, relaxing effect on brain chemistry. It's used for mild and moderate depression and it also may help you sleep better. Why? Because at night, serotonin converts into melatonin (see page 63), which is important for a great night's sleep.
For some people, 5-HTP may perform equally to or better than standard antidepressant drugs and in most cases, without side effects. One study compared 5-HTP to fluvoxamine, an SSRI like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. |
Gary Null and Amy McDonald
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 It's a precursor to the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which is one of the brain chemicals that helps us feel good."
Dr. |
Jack Challem
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 Postmeal increases in blood sugar suppress brain levels of orexins, a family of brain chemicals that is responsible for making us feel alert. Abnormally high glucose levels (not low blood sugar) and low levels of orexins are why many people feel sleepy after eating. Long-term, having diabetes and being overweight increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Supplements That Might Help with Moodiness
Emphasizing a diet of fish, lean protein, and high-fiber vegetables should improve your moods and mental clarity. |
David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes
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 Rhodiola reduces Cortisol levels while increasing key brain chemicals involved in mood, such as serotonin and dopamine. Regular use also can lead to increased levels of beta-endorphin in the brain. Beta-endorphin is a potent endorphin released by the pituitary gland that relieves stress and pain.
• Schisandra is both calming and stimulating and helps relieve anxiety. It also can provide a feeling of alertness without the stimulating effects of caffeine.
ARTHRITIS
Arthritis (inflammation of the joints) produces pain, loss of movement, and sometimes swelling. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
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 One study links REM-induced blood flow through a part of the brain called the amygdaloid complexes to the processing of some types of memory.21 brain chemicals such as dopamine and epinephrine—which may be diminished by sleep deprivation—help transfer new information from the intermediate-term, high-capacity buffer in the hippocampus (a part of the brain) into long-term memory storage in the neocortex.22
Regardless of the mechanism, several studies confirm the correlation between REM sleep and long-term retention of learning. |
| Benzodiazepines slow brain waves; antidepressants manipulate levels of brain chemicals; and over-the-counter drugs block histamine and other stimulating chemical reactions in the brain and body. These processes temporarily alleviate insomnia and other sleep disorders. However, most sleeping pills have a deleterious effect on the sleep cycle, increasing the time spent in light, stage 2 sleep and diminishing the time spent in deep sleep and REM sleep. As discussed in chapter 1, deep and REM sleep are required for optimal cerebral, immune, cardiovascular, and mental health. |
| Stress and Psychological Factors
Stress and pent-up emotional issues can wreak havoc on the brain, deregulating brain chemicals and also affecting organs that are instrumental in procuring a good night's rest. Unmanaged daily stress can upset your hormonal balance, deplete nutrient reserves, and create a vicious cycle of less sleep and more stress. Additionally, unresolved psychological issues, such as deep-seated internal fears or relationship conflicts, can disturb brain chemistry and hinder deep sleep. |
Dr. Arthur Janov
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 We must not just examine brain chemicals or structures for explanations about behavior and symptoms anymore than we should concentrate on psychology for it. The brain and body are unified. We must not consider the standard for wellness as cortical normalization without regard to other sectors of the brain, as do some of those who conduct brain biofeedback sessions. Conversely, we must not depend on psychology to determine normality. That is, we must not be satisfied with patient reports nor how they do on psychology tests. |
Bottom Line Health
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| Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center say that the ultraviolet (UV) light in tanning beds appears to trigger the production of endorphins, brain chemicals that are linked to pain relief and euphoric feelings.
THE STUDY
The study compared eight people who used tanning beds often (eight to 15 times per month) with eight people who used them infrequently (no more than 12 times per year).
All of the participants were given either a placebo or the drug naltrexone, which blocks the feel-good effects of endorphins and other opioids. |
Jack Challem
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| This appears to be related to abnormally high levels of blood sugar, which suppress orexins, a group of brain chemicals that keeps our minds sharp and alert.
Mood swings. Moods often follow blood-sugar levels. Most people feel contented after eating. When they get hungry, however, they can become grumpy, impatient, irritable, angry, mean, and aggressive. People with these changeable moods are often described as mercurial or Jekyll-and-Hyde types. (For more information, see lack's earlier book The Food-Mood Solution.)
Kidney failure. |
Bottom Line Health
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| Regular exercise may also raise levels of brain chemicals that promote the growth of new brain cells.
Exercise intensity matters less than regularity. Aim to walk briskly, run, cycle or swim for at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week.
Wayne Dyer's Simple Plan For a Stress-Free Life
Wayne W. Dyer, PhD, renowned thinker and speaker in the field of self-development. He is author of The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-Create Your World Your Way and Getting in the Gap: Making Conscious Contact with God Through Meditation, both from Hay House, www. drwaynedyer.com. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
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 In depression, there is a lack of mood-stabilizing serotonin and noradrenaline, as well as dopamine, the brain chemicals associated with motivation and pleasure, and derived from tyrosine.
To make serotonin, your brain needs the essential amino acid tryptophan, found in protein-containing foods like turkey, chicken, cottage cheese, avocados, bananas, and wheat germ. Then, eating some carbohydrate along with it helps carry the tryptophan into the brain where it is converted into serotonin. |
| It's due to depletion of vitamins such as vitamins C and B6, needed to make the feel-good brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. (For more information on these neurotransmitters, see page 114.)
Healthier ways to prevent pregnancy: the intrauterine device (IUD), condoms, and the rhythm method—which, if you get instruction from a knowledgeable medical practitioner and follow it to the letter, works almost as well as condoms and pills.
Standard Premarin'progestin hormone therapy is linked with increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, and heart attack. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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 Theanine also triggers the release of dopamine, one of the main brain chemicals associated with well-being. Dopamine is the brain's master regulator of reward and pleasure, and the release of dopamine probably contributes to the sense of well-being associated with tea drinking. The calming effect of theanine may be the reason that drinking green tea—even with caffeine—doesn't tend to produce nearly as "jittery" an experience as drinking coffee.
Finally, numerous studies have cited the connection between inflammation, oxidation, and Alzheimer's disease. |
Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D.
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 Such things as exercise and meditation work for some people, and both of them will help you manage chronic stress through the release of such feel-good substances as nitric oxide and brain chemicals called endorphins. But in the heat of the moment, at peak periods of high intensity, you should be able to pull a quick stress-busting behavior out of your biological bag of tricks. Our suggestions:
þ Scrunch your face tightly for fifteen seconds, then release. Repeat several times. This repetitive contraction and relaxation helps release tension you're holding above the neck. |
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