Anxiety
Depression?
For many people, anxiety is scary and very real. However, you’re not alone in the battle with anxiety. It’s our body’s natural response to stress. Our ancestors wouldn’t have been able to survive without our fight or flight response. However, modern society yields new light on stress and anxiety, but the good news is that there’s hope.
The cause of your anxiety is dependent upon each individual. However, taking control of your health is the best thing to do when battling anxiety and depression. The stress response our body is reacting to may be due to an internal conflict. In other words, our body might be trying to inform us of another issue.
Cognitive therapy has shown to be one of the best forms of treatment for anxiety. That is, speaking to therapist about your anxiety and problems has been to shown to be the most influential treatment towards anxiety. Although, you might be experiencing generalized anxiety.
Generalized Anxiety is a diagnosed disorder, (GAD) and treatment is dependent upon each individual. How do you know if you have generalized anxiety? Symptoms range from:
- Feeling tired all the time
- Dry mouth
- Random pains
- Feeling Fatigue
- Muscle soreness
- Frequent urination
- General sense or worry
- Muscle knots and joint pain
- Chest pains
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling dizzy or light headed.
You might notice sudden weight gain or weight loss, but it’s important to speak with your physician before diagnosing yourself as these signs could also be attributed to a more serious illness. However, if you notice
If you’re reading this article, then it’s a good chance you’re battling anxiety, depression, or a combination of the two. It’s important to see a physician for a health examination prior to practicing the information in this article. As we investigate our cause of anxiety, it’s important to give yourself time. Some days will be better than others, and it’s important be patient with yourself.
When it comes to stress and anxiety, it’s important to review one’s health. Are you overweight? Do you have digestion issues like feeling bloated? Is your stomach sticking out like you’re pregnant? These are signs of poor gut health. Within the past decade, a lot of data has shown a direct correlation between gut health and our central nervous system. Also known as the Gut-Brain Axis, and our microbiome might have a large contribution to the anxiety we feel. We know serotonin is largely produced in the gut.
Here are signs of poor gut health:
- Bloating Stomach
- Skin Rash
- Fatigue and Muscle pains
- Loose stool or constipation
Gut health is rather complex when we focus on the primary cause or improving. Gut health requires a very intuitive approach, and results are different for each individual. For example, certain foods might affect you differently than others, so it’s important to keep a log of foods you consume, and the feeling after. For many, this is rather difficult, but it’s the best way to understand your body. Another example, you might be sensitive to gluten, so certain foods can make you feel more lethargic, tired, or bloated while other foods give you energy. However, it might not just be gluten you’re sensitive to. Autoimmune triggers could be caused by a lot of different enzymes or proteins found in food.
Our gut biome is different for each individual.
Possible symptoms of poor gut health
- Bloating Stomach
- Skin Rash
- Fatigue and Muscle pains
- Loose stool or constipation
Something else to consider
In addition to eliminating certain foods, ensure you’re getting important trace mineral is very important for your central and the enteric nervous system, linking emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions. Recent advances in research have described the importance of gut microbiota in influencing these interactions.
What are trace minerals?
Magnesium Chloride has been shown to relieve stress and anxiety. Although, magnesium deficiency is uncommon in the United State for healthy, nearly half of Americans don’t receive the daily recommended amount. Trace minerals may play an important role in overall health, and for our central nervous system. If you sweat a lot and workout hard, then it’s possible you may require more trace minerals. It’s important to replenish the required nurishment our bodies need for important functions.
Citations
Totten MS, Davenport TS, Edwards LF, Howell JM. Trace Minerals and Anxiety: A Review of Zinc, Copper, Iron, and Selenium. Dietetics. 2023; 2(1):83-103. https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics2010008
Carabotti M, Scirocco A, Maselli MA, Severi C. The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015 Apr-Jun;28(2):203-209. PMID: 25830558; PMCID: PMC4367209.