Brain Injury and Depression: Physicians Working in the Dark -- So What Should We Do In the Meantime?

Review Reveals Only 2 Treatment Trials in This Large Patient Population

"April 25, 2011 — Despite the fact that depression after traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects up to 30% of patients — or approximately 360,000 individuals annually — an extensive analysis reveals a stunning lack of research into effective treatments."

source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/741448?sssdmh=dm1.682894&src=nldne

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health problem, especially among male adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 24, and among elderly people of both sexes 75 years and older. Children aged 5 and younger are also at high risk for TBI.

TBI costs the country more than $48 billion a year, and between 2.5 and 6.5 million Americans alive today have had a TBI. Survivors of TBI are often left with significant cognitive, behavioral, and communicative disabilities, and some patients develop long-term medical complications, such as epilepsy.

Other statistics dramatically tell the story of head injury in the United States. Each year:

• approximately 270,000 people experience a moderate or severe TBI,
• approximately 70,000 people die from head injury,
• approximately 1 million head-injured people are treated in hospital emergency rooms,
• approximately 60,000 new cases of epilepsy occur as a result of head trauma,
• approximately 230,000 people are hospitalized for TBI and survive, and
• approximately 80,000 of these survivors live with significant disabilities as a result of the injury.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
TBI, also called acquired brain injury or simply head injury, occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. The damage can be focal - confined to one area of the brain - or diffuse - involving more than one area of the brain. TBI can result from a closed head injury* or a penetrating head injury. A closed injury occurs when the head suddenly and violently hits an object but the object does not break through the skull. A penetrating injury occurs when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue.

*National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement, October 26-28, 1998. Rehabilitation of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury. Bethesda, MD, September 1999.

source: http://www.doereport.com/displaymonograph.php?MID=92

While the medical and pharmaceutical industries are spending billions trying to come up with a new magic bullet for depression, those who suffer from depression can go the tried and true "old skool" route by balancing their lifestyle choices.

Depression is more often caused by a lack of certain foods in the diet rather than something present in the diet. It is known that carbohydrates in the diet increase the brain’s production of serotonin. Also, the body needs the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in food proteins, to produce serotonin. So depression can sometimes be the result of a diet that is low in carbohydrates or tryptophan.

Here are some things you can do for yourself:

• drink plenty of pure water

• consume organic produce and hormone/antibiotic-free meats

• salmon, tuna, mackerel, spinach, fresh or frozen peas (not canned), chick peas, chicken and turkey are especially helpful

• prepare your own meals and serve yourself as if you were royalty

• get 20 minutes of sunshine a day

• exercise (in accordance with physical condition)

• have mercury dental amalgams ("silver fillings") removed by a properly trained biological dentist and replace them with biocompatible materials (see http://www.iaomt.org/patients/search.aspx)

• laugh often

• do something interesting and fun every day

• spend time with those who make you feel good

• read something interesting

• pray/meditate/quiet time

• get 8 hours of deep, restful sleep

• check folic acid iron, phenylalanine, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 levels

Avoid:

• sugar and foods that metabolize as sugar

• caffeine

• artificial foods

• refined foods

• food additives

• alcohol

• those who make you angry/upset

• too much television, computer, cell phone (EMF)

• grains, (except rolled organic oatmeal) especially if gluten intolerant

A balanced lifestyle is a proven way to rebalance the body, mind and spirit -- and some of it is FREE!

Feel GOOD!

OC

source: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/may2001/989491596.Ns.r.html

What Can Folate Do For You?

Folate (folic acid) is a B-complex vitamin that is key to the complete development of red blood cells, which help carry oxygen around the body. Folate also helps maintain healthy blood circulation throughout the body, and preventing a buildup of homocysteine, associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and can lead to the deterioration of dopamine-producing brain cells, and may contribute to the development of Parksinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and dementias. Folate is also key to brain and spinal column development in the fetus, and reduces the risk of nervous system problem in newborns.

Symptoms of Folate deficiency include irritability, confusion, forgetfulness, depression, incomnia, mental and muscle fatigue, non-senile dementia, restless leg syndrome, and nervous system problems in the hands and feet.

It's important to maintain a full compliment of B vitamins, as deficient intake of B's can contribute to folate deficiency. B1, B2 and B3 enable folic acid to undergo metabolic recycling in the body. Poor protein intake can also cause folate deficiency, as can excessive alcohol intake, smoking and heavy coffee drinking. Some anti-cancer drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs,

diabetes treatments, oral contraceptives, diuretics and antibiotics can also deplete folate from the system.

Folate may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of the following health conditions:

• Alcoholism
• Anemias (especially macrocytic anemia)
• Atherosclerosis
• Cervical dysplasia
• Cervical tumors
• Cleft palate or cleft lip
• Crohn's disease
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Gingivitis
• Glossitis
• Glycogen storage disease type I
• Hyperhomocysteinemia
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Insomnia
• Myelopathy
• Neural tube defects
• Non-senile dementia
• Ovarian tumors
• Periodontal disease
• Restless leg syndrome
• Schizophrenia
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Tropical sprue
• Uterine tumors

Folate is best found in dark, green leafy vegetables, spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, mustard greens, parsley, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, lentils and calf's liver. It is also found in squash, black beans, pinto eans, garbanzo beans, papaya and string beans. If you're a 'diet' follower, the Mediterranean Diet is high in folate.

Or you can purchase folate in supplement form at your local health food retailer.

OC

Go Bananas!

What do bananas have in common with eggs, salmon, and spinach? Hint: a vitamin that's great for your colon.

Science shows that simply getting your share of Vitamin B6 could cut your risk of colon and rectal cancer. A lot.

Big Time B Benefits
In one of the largest studies to date on B6 and colon health, people with the highest intake of the vitamin -- from food and supplements -- reduced their risk of colorectal cancer by 20 to 30 percent. And this study is just one of many showing a benefit. Researchers suspect that B6's role in the metabolism of folate -- another colon-friendly B vitamin -- might explain the protective effects.

A healthy colon is just one reason to load up on B6-rich foods. The mighty vitamin might also help stave off Parkinson's disease and depression.

East Recipe: http://lagunanaturalhealth.blogspot.com/2009/06/dessert-recipe-banana-soft-serve-no.html

Enjoy a peaceful weekend.

OC