Overcome depression with natural therapies.
Author: Andrew Cavanagh

DEPRESSION AND EICOSANOIDS
Eicosanoids are your body’s “master hormones”. They indirectly control nearly every function of your body. Depression is linked to a “bad” eicosanoid called prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).

A study in 1983 found that levels of the bad eicosanoid (PGE2) were 2-3 times higher in patients with depression than in normal controls. Subsequent studies have also found elevated levels of PGE2 in the bodies of patients suffering from depression.

This is alarming news because overproduction of the “bad” eicosanoid PGE2 not only causes mood problems like depression. PGE2 also causes inflammation, suppresses your immune system, causes blood clotting and a host of other potentially deadly effects.

These can lead to serious disease in the following ways:

Effects of the “bad” eicosanoid PGE2:

? PGE2 reduces the release and uptake of neurotransmitters in your brain like serotonin which can lead to depression.

? PGE2 causes your blood to clot which can lead to heart attacks or strokes.

? PGE2 causes your blood vessels to contract (vasoconstriction) which can lead to high blood pressure.

? PGE2 depresses your immune system which can lead to cancer.

? PGE2 stimulates pain and fever which can lead to allergies, headaches, arthritis and chronic pain.

? PGE2 causes inflammation in your body and your brain which could lead to Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS).

So depression is often an early warning that more serious conditions like heart disease, stroke and cancer are developing. You simply can’t afford to take depression lightly. You must change your diet and lifestyle NOW to reverse the effects of depression and the other more serious effects of your body’s overproduction of “bad” eicosanoids like PGE2.

THE GOOD NEWS, GOOD EICOSANOID PGE1
The good news is that you can control your body’s production of eicosanoids with diet and lifestyle. And when you do this often not only will your symptoms of depression abate or disappear many other long term health problems could also be relieved.

Like most hormones in your body the bad eicosanoid PGE2 has an opposing hormone to help keep your body’s functions in balance.PGE2’s opposing hormone is Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1).

The good eicosanoid PGE1 has many wonderfully beneficial effects:

? PGE1 increases the release and uptake of neurotransmitters in your brain like serotonin increasing feelings of wellbeing and calmness.

? PGE1 stops your blood from clumping, reducing the chance of heart disease and strokes.

? PGE1 helps your blood vessels to relax reducing your blood pressure and increasing circulation.

? PGE1 controls your immune system reducing the risk of cancer.

? PGE1 reduces pain often leading to relief from headaches, arthritis and chronic pain.

? PGE1 reduces inflammation in your body and your brain reducing the chance of diseases like MS and Alzheimer’s.

To understand how to switch the production of eicosanoids in your body from bad to good you first need to understand three major hormonal systems in your body: eicosanoids, insulin and cortisol.

1.Eicosanoids are your body’s “master” hormones indirectly controlling nearly every function in your body including feelings of wellbeing and indirectly feelings of depression.

You need to increase your body’s production of “good” eicosanoids to stimulate feelings of wellbeing and reduce or eliminate feelings of depression.

2. Insulin is your body’s “sugar” hormone, released in response to blood glucose (blood sugar).

Excess insulin production in your body can be caused by eating a diet too high in carbohydrates. Especially carbohydrates which convert too quickly to blood glucose.
Excess insulin can stop the production of good eicosanoids and stimulate the production of bad eicosanoids.
This can lead to depression.

Excess insulin production also leads to the release of the “stress” hormone cortisol.

3. Cortisol, the “stress” hormone is released when you are under physical or emotional stress.

Cortisol can block the production of “good” eicosanoids leading to feelings of poor health and depression.
Also, long term exposure to excess cortisol can kill your brain cells, leading to impaired brain function.

So to reduce the symptoms of depression or to eliminate it altogether you need to do three things:

1. Increase your body’s production of good eicosanoids (the “master” hormones).

2. Control your body’s production of insulin (the “sugar” hormone).

3. Reduce your body’s production of cortisol (the “stress” hormone).

You can learn how to do all that in these six steps. The six steps from depression to glorious health are:

1. Following a good diet.
Which increases your body’s production of “good” eicosanoids, controls your body’s insulin production and reduces the release of cortisol.

2. Drinking enough water.
Which allows all your body’s systems to function efficiently.

3. Exercising daily.
Which increases your insulin sensitivity (helping to control your body’s insulin production) and reduces your cortisol levels.

4. Practicing advanced hygiene.
Which helps to increase your body’s production of “good” eicosanoids and helps to reduce your body’s cortisol levels.

5. Improving the quality and quantity of your sleep.
Which helps to increase your body’s production of “good” eicosanoids and reduce your body’s cortisol levels.

6. Building good emotional health.
Which helps reduce your body’s cortisol levels.

From the groundbreaking free book From depression to glorious health in six steps. Completely free download at http://www.geocities.com/glorioushealth






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Andrew Cavanagh is a professional health writer and speaker and a member of the Australasian Medical Writer's Association. He is the author of One hour to glorious health and permanent weight loss and the groundbreaking From depression to glorious health. Both books can be downloaded free at www.geocities.com/glorioushealth

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