When I first read this research I was elated. For years I noticed that my own bout with food allergies and thyroid issue was a mirror of my mental state. Once I saw it in myself, it became prevalent in clients. When I had a depressed client I started to look for signs of allergies, stomach issues, immune problems and so on. Once we treated the issue by removing it or aiding it, the person would slowly get better both physically and mentally. While I’m not a doctor, personal training can actually be a very healing journey if done correctly and by someone who really cares. It also helps if the trainer is paying close attention. This research could really alter the industry and help people find the real issues for their depression.
What if we could solve the worlds depression by removing inflammation? The most recent research is showing that many bouts of depression are caused by an allergic reaction to inflammation.
Tim de Chant of NOVA writes: “Inflammation is our immune system’s natural response to injuries, infections, or foreign compounds. When triggered, the body pumps various cells and proteins to the site through the blood stream, including cytokines, a class of proteins that facilitate intercellular communication. It also happens that people suffering from depression are loaded with cytokines.”
Inflammation can be caused by many things but it’s also more prevalent in high sugar diets, high carbohydrate diets, and often diets that are high in dairy. Researches are opening new doors by testing the inflammatory symptoms of depression verses the psychological aspects.
Caroline Williams of The Guardian writes: “The good news is that the few clinical trials done so far have found that adding anti-inflammatory medicines to antidepressants not only improves symptoms, it also increases the proportion of people who respond to treatment, although more trials will be needed to confirm this. There is also some evidence that omega 3 and curcumin, an extract of the spice turmeric, might have similar effects. Both are available over the counter and might be worth a try, although as an add-on to any prescribed treatment – there’s definitely not enough evidence to use them as a replacement.”
Caroline’s mention of the use of curcumin from turmeric, seems to fall directly inline with one of our previous articles from earlier this week. Make sure you take a look at why everyone should be taking this amazing supplement. This could also mean that there could be natural cures for depression.
Eleanor Morgan of VICE adds: “Cytokines skyrocket during depressive episodes and, in those with bipolar disorder, halt in remission. The fact that ‘normal,’ healthy people can become temporarily anxious or depressed after receiving an inflammatory vaccine — like typhoid — lends further credence to the theory. There are even those who think we should re-brand depression altogether as an infectious disease … Carmine Pariante, a Kings College psychiatrist who is quoted in The Guardian report, says that we’re between five and ten years away from a blood test that can measure levels of inflammation in depressed people. If both Pariante’s estimate and the inflammation-depression theory are correct, we could potentially be just five years from an adequate ‘cure’ for depression (source).”
The fact that debilitating disorders such as bipolar could some how be halted and put into remission with this research is ground breaking. It gives hope to many people who have suffered for decades with this illness. I would love to do follow up research in the fitness industry on this topic. I think that would yield some amazing results.
If you know someone who suffers from depression, please share this article with them. This illness affects so many and any glimmer of hope for the future could change the perspective of many!
Adria
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