{"id":38839,"date":"2023-11-19T06:44:42","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T13:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/?p=38839"},"modified":"2023-11-19T06:46:02","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T13:46:02","slug":"depression-root-causes-and-functional-medicine-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/depression-root-causes-and-functional-medicine-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Depression: Root Causes and Functional Medicine Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"38839\" class=\"elementor elementor-38839\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5049160 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5049160\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ac5760 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ac5760\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression can affect all of us. It can be mild or a debilitating disease that disrupts a person\u2019s life. Do you suffer from depression? Are you aware of some little-known causes that could help you to resolve your depression?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this blog on depression, you will learn:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is depression and its symptoms<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the root causes for depression that are often missed\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Functional Medicine can help address depression<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What solutions are available to reduce or eliminate depression<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>WHAT IS DEPRESSION?<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression is\u00a0a constant feeling of sadness and hopelessness. Depressed people often lose interest in the normal activities of daily life. Symptoms can range from relatively minor to severe.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression is a disorder of the brain and can be a serious mental illness. In some cases, depression can persist for months or years and interfere with everyday life.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The incidence of depression worldwide increased by 50% from 1990 to 2017 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34023580\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liu Q, 2020<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During 2020, the prevalence of depression among US adults was 18.5% (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/72\/wr\/mm7224a1.htm#:~:text=The%20age%2Dstandardized%20prevalence%20of%20depression%20was%20higher%20among%20women,(14.6%25)%2C%20and%20non%2D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC, 2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression was highest among people aged 18\u201324 years old (21.5%) and lowest among those aged \u226565 years old (14.2%)<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/72\/wr\/mm7224a1.htm#:~:text=The%20age%2Dstandardized%20prevalence%20of%20depression%20was%20higher%20among%20women,(14.6%25)%2C%20and%20non%2D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CDC, 2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rate of depression was higher among women (24.0%) compared with men (13.3%) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/72\/wr\/mm7224a1.htm#:~:text=The%20age%2Dstandardized%20prevalence%20of%20depression%20was%20higher%20among%20women,(14.6%25)%2C%20and%20non%2D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC, 2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION?<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all depression is the same. It is a complicated disorder and there are different subtypes. Common symptoms of depression:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A continuous low mood or sadness accompanied by feeling hopeless and helpless<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having low self-esteem while feeling nervous, anxious and worried\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling tearful, irritable and intolerant of others<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having no\u00a0motivation\u00a0or interest in things including difficulty\u00a0making decisions<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not getting any\u00a0enjoyment out of life, having thoughts of suicide, planning suicide or engaging in self-harm\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physically, a person may:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Move and speak more slowly than usual accompanied by a lack of energy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have a change in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have constipation or unexplained aches and pains<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have a low\u00a0sex drive\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have disturbed sleep with either difficulty falling asleep or waking\u00a0up very\u00a0early in the morning<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Socially, a depressed person may avoid contact with friends or family and\u00a0avoid joining social activities. They may neglect work, relationships,\u00a0hobbies or interests. Being depressed can lead to having difficulties in home, work or family life.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression can be a silent disease. Almost 60% of people with depression do not seek medical help (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33760492\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chand SP, 2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). There is a stigma that depression, or any mental health disorder, is not socially acceptable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For years, it was thought that depression was due to low serotonin levels. But the serotonin theory of depression has been disproven. Recent research says there is \u2018no consistent evidence of an association between serotonin and depression\u2019 and there is \u2018no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations\u2019 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41380-022-01661-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moncrieff et al, 2022<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worse still, long-term use of SSRI medication (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), or \u2018antidepressants\u2019, may actually lower serotonin concentration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite this evidence, many medical and mental health professionals are not up to date and continue to practice as if depression is primarily connected with neurochemical imbalances.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, antidepressants are not terribly effective:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">31%\u00a0of people do not respond to current antidepressant treatment or respond poorly (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33989464\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zhdanava M, 2021<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40% of people do reach symptom remission within 12 months, but it is not uncommon for depression to come back (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33760492\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chand SP, 2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, if not serotonin depletion, what does cause depression?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clearly,\u00a0external social and environmental factors can trigger depression. Having experienced trauma, abuse, deprivation, extreme stress, a major accident, loneliness, divorce, death of a loved one, financial difficulties and many other difficult life events can all contribute to depression.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But there are often physiological root causes for depression. In Functional Medicine, we seek to identify and treat these root causes to help our patients recover from depression. This makes the body more resilient in handling the stresses and challenges of modern daily life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Neuroinflammation\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emerging research shows that neuroinflammation is a key issue in depression. Neuroinflammation is inflammation in the brain. When the brain is inflamed, depression or other neurological or neuropsychiatric conditions can present.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflammation in the brain negatively affects brain health. Mood disorders such as depression, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/root-causes-of-anxiety-and-functional-medicine-solutions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anxiety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, autism, dementia \/<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/alzheimers-diet-and-lifestyle\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alzheimer\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and schizophrenia have all been linked to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/brain-toxins-affect-mental-health\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">inflammation in the brain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is significant research on the \u2018cytokine theory of depression\u2019. This says that inflammatory proteins called cytokines in the bloodstream cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and cause neuroinflammation. This neuroinflammation activates microglia cells in the brain and can cause depressive symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microglia cells are immune cells of the brain that regulate brain development. They play important roles in brain health and inflammation.\u00a0Microglia protect against diseases such as meningitis and Alzheimer&#8217;s.\u00a0But they can also be harmful. The chronic activation of microglia may cause\u00a0neuronal damage. This is because they release proinflammatory cytokines and others molecules that contribute to neuroinflammation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, the next question is, what is the cause of the inflammatory cytokines and resulting neuroinflammation?\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Infection as a trigger for neuroinflammation<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infections and toxins impact mental health via the mechanism of neuroinflammation. An infection or toxin can affect the brain. The infection or toxin can get into the brain, often through a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/causes-and-implications-of-blood-brain-barrier-permeability\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">leaky blood brain barrier<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Once in the brain, they can initiate neuroinflammation and a brain autoimmunity process that leads to mental health dysfunction.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the link between infections, antibodies against brain tissue and inflammation?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In simple terms, when the immune system is combating some infection, the protein structure of the infectious organism may look a lot like some brain tissue. The immune system is trying to fight the infection and inadvertently starts to attack brain structures in the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the infection becomes chronic or the autoimmune process continues, changes to brain chemistry and neuroinflammation that result from the brain autoimmunity can cause the onset of mental health disorders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>The 5 main infections causing mental illness are:<\/strong><\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strep throat<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A strep throat infection can be the trigger for neuropsychiatric symptoms in childhood such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and tic disorders. As a result of the infection, antibodies against brain tissue are created, which cause structural damage to the brain, neuroinflammation and symptoms.<\/span><\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lyme disease<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lyme is a bacterial infection, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Borrelia is most commonly spread via tick bites. Lyme disease is a complex inflammatory disease with both acute and potentially chronic symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When left untreated, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, Lyme disease can possibly develop into more serious symptoms.\u00a0 It can cause inflammation in the brain and mood symptoms. Neuropsychiatric problems such as anxiety, depression, panic and OCD can develop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lyme co-infections<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Lyme disease co-infection occurs when someone is infected with other diseases transmitted by the same tick. A tick can carry disease-causing microbes or co-infections in addition to Borrelia. Once bitten, it is possible to contract Lyme and one or more co-infections simultaneously. Possible Lyme co-infections include Bartonella, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Powassan virus, Borrelia miyamotoi (relapsing fever-like illness) and Ehrlichia muris (which causes ehrlichiosis) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29398603\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eisen, 2018<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mold illness<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mold is a significant and under-examined issue that contributes to chronic inflammation and illness. Mold toxins, or mycotoxins, are biotoxins that can cause illness. Exposure to molds, mycotoxins and water-damaged buildings can cause neuropsychiatric symptoms and inflammation. Some symptoms of mold illness include pain, fatigue, increased anxiety, depression and cognitive issues when exposed to a moldy environment (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31751617\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harding CF, 2020<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Viral infections<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Viral infection can be a significant cause of illness, inflammation, immune problems and mental health issues. Different types of viruses, including Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), herpes, Covid, the flu, HPV and chickenpox \/ shingles have been associated with mental illnesses (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25364500\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Canli, 2014<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Viral infections are never fully eliminated from the body like most bacterial infections are. Viral infections remain dormant in the body. A virus can be re-activated at any time. It can become a low-level chronic infection, even after the acute symptoms resolve.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress is one of the main triggers for reactivation. When the immune system becomes overwhelmed by something else, a virus can re-activate. Being under constant stress can make the immune system too weak to fight the virus off. It can then develop into a chronic underlying viral infection. Encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, is commonly caused by a viral infection like herpes simplex virus (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29626021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ellul M, 2018<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bacterial or parasitic infections and exposure to toxins (mold toxins or toxic heavy metals) can trigger the reactivation of latent viral infections. Other viruses such as COVID-19 may be able to reactivate dormant viruses like Epstein-Barr Virus. Chronic viral infections can cause neuroinflammation or brain antibodies that can lead to depression, anxiety and mental health issues.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One study found that any history of hospitalization for infection is associated with a 62% increased risk of later developing a mood disorder, such as depression and bipolar disorder (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24199668\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benros ME, 2013<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Exposure to Toxins as a source of neuroinflammation<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toxin exposure can have extreme health consequences both in the short term and the long term. Exposure to toxins can be a cause of mental health disorders.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toxins create neuroinflammation, cause damage to tissue and brain function, interfere with important inter-cellular communication, disrupt the gut and the gut\/ brain axis and can possibly change DNA. Toxins damage genes and gene expression by possibly turning on harmful genes and\/or turning off beneficial ones. All of these effects can lead to depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please see our recent blog <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/brain-toxins-affect-mental-health\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for more info on the danger of excessive toxin exposure.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to infections and toxins, what are other sources of neuroinflammation?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7cafe76 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7cafe76\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-703d7a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"703d7a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"single-post\" data-elementor-id=\"31923\" class=\"elementor elementor-31923\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-325b90a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"325b90a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7c74d79\" data-id=\"7c74d79\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-638f4a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"638f4a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">To Read About Blog Topic, Scroll Down<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-acc3bc5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"acc3bc5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ce975f3\" data-id=\"ce975f3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7e365d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e7e365d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Want To Work With Our Clinic?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a184016 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a184016\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Do you have a chronic or mystery illness that no one has been able to help you with? Are you simply wanting to re-connect with a healthier version of yourself? It&#8217;s Time To Finally Feel Better!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d273d02 elementor-align-justify elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"d273d02\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-xl\" href=\"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/discovery-consultation\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">BOOK A  DISCOVERY CALL <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c1e134 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9c1e134\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd13870 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd13870\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gut Issues<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A little-known fact is that gut issues can cause mental health issues. Imbalances in the gut can contribute to depression, anxiety and a lower stress resilience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gut dysbiosis is a cause of mental illness. Dysbiosis is an excess of bad gut bacteria in relation to good and healthy gut bacteria in the gut microbiome. Gut dysbiosis usually causes digestive symptoms and can contribute to depression. Dysbiosis can be caused by many things; a poor diet, stress, antibiotics, other medications, alcohol and other toxins that change the normal microbiome balance and contribute to dysbiosis.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During dysbiosis, the gut brain axis is dysregulated. The blood-brain barrier becomes more permeable. Bad gut bacteria produce more LPS toxins, which cause inflammation. This inflammation, due to LPS and other microbes, increases pro-inflammatory cytokines (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fimmu.2020.604179\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rutsch A, 2020<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). With a permeable BBB, these cytokines and toxins get into the brain, leading to neuroinflammation and inflammatory gut\/brain conditions, such as depression (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fimmu.2020.604179\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rutsch A, 2020<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression &amp; the Gut<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In one study, endotoxins, like LPS, were infused into healthy subjects with no history of depression (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5641835\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clapp M, 2017<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The LPS triggered a release of inflammatory cytokines, which triggered classic depressive symptoms (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5641835\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clapp M, 2017<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The vagal nerve connection between the brain and gut is one mechanism for this. Another is leaky gut, which can allow gram-negative bacteria to get into the blood stream and cause systemic inflammation.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autoimmunity or autoimmune processes in the brain<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autoimmune causes of brain inflammation have been reported to be at least as common as viral causes in one study (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34108243\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uy CE, 2021<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). As autoimmunity continues to affect more and more of the population, it is expected that the growing range of autoimmune causes of brain inflammation will become more common than infectious causes of brain inflammation (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34108243\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uy CE, 2021<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is Diet a cause of brain inflammation and depression?<\/span><\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diet and the specific foods we eat can have significant impact on depression. We can improve, or worsen, depression with our diet. Some foods are inflammatory and will create neuroinflammation in the brain, which is a trigger for depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A high-quality, healthy and anti-inflammatory diet, like the Mediterranean diet, is associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms over time (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29031185\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Molendijk M, 2018<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An inflammatory diet of ultra-processed foods will negatively affect mental health. Ultra-processed foods, or UPF, are industrial foods. They are made of additives, preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, artificial colors and flavors.\u00a0They contain very little real food.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a significant link between high UPF intake and depression (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/15\/9\/2169\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lee S, 2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Eating UPF increases depression, particularly in people who do little physical activity (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00394-019-01970-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">G\u00f3mez-Donoso C, 2020<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). UPF are associated with cardiometabolic diseases, which are linked to depression (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00394-019-01970-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">G\u00f3mez-Donoso C, 2020<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who ate the most UPF had a 1.40 times higher likelihood of having depression (Lee S, 2023) and (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00394-019-01970-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">G\u00f3mez-Donoso C, 2020<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can specific foods affect depression?<\/span><\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific foods can improve or worsen depression. People without depression eat more anti-inflammatory whole foods such as legumes, fruits, vegetables and fish, and less sweets\/pastries than those with depressive symptoms (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30841895\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grases G, 2019<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Depressed people eat much less legumes, fruits, vegetables, fish and more sweets and refined sugars\u00a0(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30841895\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grases G, 2019<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29031185\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Molendijk M, 2018<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages increases the risk of depression (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30419536\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hu D, 2019<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). People who drank 2 cups\/day of cola increase the risk of depression by 5% and those who drink 3 cans\/day of cola have approximately 25% higher risk of depression (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30419536\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hu D, 2019<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids from industrial seed oils like corn oil, soy oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, etc. are all pro-inflammatory. They are even more inflammatory if omega 3 fats (EPA and DHA from fish) are low.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduced depression is correlated with the Mediterranean diet, eating nuts and eating a wide variety of vegetables (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29215971\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parletta N, 2019<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Mental health improves with increased vegetable diversity and legumes (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29215971\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parletta N, 2019<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased omega 3 fats and decreased omega 6 fats improve depression and mental health (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29215971\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parletta N, 2019<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). People with depression who ate a Mediterranean-style diet and fish oil supplements for 6 months experienced improved mental health scores at 3 months and at 6 months (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29215971\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parletta N, 2019<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE SOLUTIONS TO DEPRESSION<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce neuroinflammation. Seek to identify and eliminate all cause of inflammation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Look at infections. Do you have, or did you recently have, strep throat, Lyme disease, a Lyme co-infection, mold illness or a viral infection (EBV, herpes, chicken pox\/ shingles, Covid or another virus)? Treat infections like strep, Lyme, mold or a virus. See your Functional Medicine practitioner for the best advice on treatment. Also read through our blogs as we have extensively written on these conditions and how to treat them.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce your toxic load. Have you had significant exposure to toxins and have built up toxic load in the body? See our recent blog <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/brain-toxins-affect-mental-health\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. We extensively discuss the toxins\/ mental health link and advise how to avoid toxins and reduce your toxic load.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get treated for gut problems, imbalances or infections. Fix leaky gut. We have written so many blogs on gut health and how to improve it. Please scroll through our blogs for things you can do for yourself to address gut health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. We recommend the gluten-free Mediterranean or Paleo diets as a template. Get any food sensitivities or intolerances identified and resolved.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure your omega 6 to 3 levels are not creating inflammation. Get tested for your omega 3 level. Take a high-quality fish oil. Eat SMASH \u2013 sardines, mackerel, anchovies, (wild) salmon and herring to naturally boost omega 3 levels. Avoid highly processed inflammatory omega 6 oils. The main culprits to avoid canola, corn, Mazola, vegetable, safflower, sunflower, soy and peanut oils.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try Running instead. Antidepressant medication and running therapy were compared as treatment for depression and anxiety. The treatment was either to take antidepressant medication or to start running 45-min outdoors for 16\u00a0weeks 2-3 times a week. The verdict? Antidepressant medication and exercise have similar rates of success! Running improved mental health in 43.3 % of study participants, which is essentially equal to antidepressants, which improved mental health in 44.8 % of study participants (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36828150\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verhoeven JE, 2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce screen time. Minimize your insta and social media time. We all know that people only put their best selves forward on social media to look very happy or successful. If you then compare yourself to this idealized version, it can induce self-esteem and mental health issues. Remember, comparison is the thief of joy!<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read our blog on anxiety<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/root-causes-of-anxiety-and-functional-medicine-solutions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for more ways to reduce inflammation and improve mental health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get the basics right. This means manage your stress. Practice stress management, mindfulness and being present. Get good sleep. Exercise. Eat right. Get sunlight and fresh air. Maintain a good social support network. Try therapy if you need it. CBT can be effective for depression. If you need help doing these things, come see us at Medicine with Heart.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression is a common and potentially serious mental illness. In 2020, the prevalence of depression among US adults was 18.5% (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/72\/wr\/mm7224a1.htm#:~:text=The%20age%2Dstandardized%20prevalence%20of%20depression%20was%20higher%20among%20women,(14.6%25)%2C%20and%20non%2D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC, 2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The current treatment for depression is antidepressants but they are not terribly effective: 31%\u00a0of people do not respond to current antidepressant treatment or respond poorly (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33989464\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zhdanava M, 2021<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apart from very challenging external social and environmental factors, there can be many causes of depression. In Functional Medicine, we seek to identify and treat physiological root causes for depression to help our patients recover from depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A key cause showing up in emerging research is neuroinflammation as a trigger for depression. Neuroinflammation is inflammation in the brain. When the brain is inflamed, depression and other neurological or neuropsychiatric conditions can present.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What causes neuroinflammation? Infections (strep, Lyme, Lyme co-infection, mold or virus), toxins (environmental, industrial chemicals, household chemicals, personal care product ingredients), gut issues (dysbiosis, gut infections, gut imbalances, leaky gut, leaky brain) and\/ or poor diet (inflammatory foods especially ultra-processed foods, sugary sodas, omega 6 processed vegetable oils).<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Functional Medicine solutions to depression involve reducing neuroinflammation by resolving these neuroinflammation issues. We recommend to get any and all infections treated and cleared. Address any toxicity and reduce your toxin exposure. Get gut issues, imbalances and dysbiosis resolved and treat leaky gut\/ brain.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat a clean, whole foods, anti-inflammatory diet such as the Paleo or gluten-free Mediterranean diet. Ensure a good level of omega 3 fats and keep omega 6 fats to a minimum in the diet. Supplement omega 3 if necessary.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercise. Reduce screen time. Sleep well. Manage stress. These will all reduce neuroinflammation and depression and improve your mental health. Get help from the Medicine with Heart clinic for a fully comprehensive Functional Medicine approach to resolving your depression.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><br \/><br \/><\/p><p><b>** Follow us for our next Blog on the Functional Medicine approach to Chronic Disease **<\/b><\/p><p><br \/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As always, please get in touch with us. If you or someone you know is<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">struggling with depression<\/span><b>, <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/contact\/\"><b>contact our clinic <\/b><\/a><b>today.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0W<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">e can work on any issue(s) and improve your health. <\/span><b>Book a<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinewithheart.com\/discovery-consultation\/\"><b>\u00a0free <\/b><b>health evaluation call<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0with us today, to see how we can help you with your concerns.\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We can answer your questions and help you book an initial consult with one of the functional medicine doctors in our clinic.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Depression can affect all of us. It can be mild or a debilitating disease that disrupts a person\u2019s life. Do you suffer from depression? 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