Alpha Immune Nutrition

"As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation -- either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force.
I decided to follow the latter course."
- Martin Luther King Jr.
♥️

Health Science Fact Of The Week-

Did you know..

Spending at least 120 minutes OUTSIDE each week can have the same therapeutic benefits as an antidepressant?

It’s true!

And All it takes is stepping outside your door.
You can sit in your backyard, do yard work, shovel snow, go for a stroll down your street, walk to town and listen to the ocean, or go for a hike in the woods.

The essential requirement is being outside and in a stress relieving environment.
So if you’re feeling the winter blues, one SAD therapy that may help you is to get outside! Even if it is just sitting happily in your backyard, like me.

For more information on the benefits of being outdoors, please leave a comment or DM me.

Cheers

The gut has been referred to as the second brain. Gut bacteria influence neurotransmitters which affect mood and even in some cases our decision making abilities.

For more information, please DM me.

Please leave a comment with any questions or thoughts and for more information on neurotransmitters, please feel free to refer to my previous post where I list and describe some of the most fundamental neurochemicals and how they influence the mind and body.

Cheers

As a behavior modification specialist, I find neurotransmitters to be a fundamental and crucial biochemical process that aids the body in a multitude of physiologic and psychologic activities.  For all of you interested in the biochemistry, please read on-
-The human brain contains billions of neurons, all of which communicate information with each other through a process involving action potential, synapses, and neurotransmission of neurons. These neurons or chemical messengers receive and give back information through electrical responses to and from the brain and nervous system. The circuitry consists of electrical waves and chemical signals, transmitting information from different regions in the brain and throughout the nervous system.

SEROTONIN- is known for its mood-stabilizing effects, but its primary role is in aiding digestion.  95% of serotonin is produced in the gut via gut bacteria.  Serotonin influences our mood, appetite, digestion, and sleep.
DOPAMINE- known as the pleasure chemical.  It is responsible for the brain's reward system and is involved in memory, learning, and decision making.
ACETYLCHOLINE- is expressed within muscle throughout the body as well as the nervous system and mimics the electric frequencies of that of the vagus nerve. It plays an essential role in memory and learning.
GABA- Gamma-aminobutyric acid is an amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain.  It is responsible for learning; Gaba's central role is to neuronal activity, producing feelings of relaxation, calm, and pain reduction.
EPINEPHRINE- increases the production of cortisol, which is a stress hormone.  Epinephrine, or adrenaline, has pain-relieving effects.  Over time, it can result in adrenal fatigue and a compromised immune system.
ENDORPHINS- are made of polypeptides and are not neurotransmitters but play on their activation.  They are referred to as endogenous opioids (endogenous= within, opioid= morphine).  They act on opioid receptors in the brain that are responsible for pain relief and the euphoric effect from strenuous exercise. There is a particular class called beta-endorphins that are more powerful than morphine in relieving pain.

Oxidative stress is a natural process that occurs when the body comes in contact with ROS (reactive oxygen species) and free radicals. This process occurs daily and is part of normal aerobic metabolic functions in controlled amounts and plays a role in maintaining immunity and wound healing by killing pathogens.

When free radicals (unstable atom molecules) are produced in chronic and elevated levels, they become toxic to cells, damaging the mitochondria, which results in apoptosis (death of the cell). This development occurs when antioxidant molecules that aid in donating an electron to unstable free radical molecules cannot keep up. The consequences of imbalance and heightened production of free radicals result in oxidative stress that creates a sequence of genetic expressions resulting in pro-inflammatory states, which contributes to the development of chronic inflammatory illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, leukemia, obesity, depression, chrons disease, colitis, lupus, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) and advanced aging.

Free radicals and ROS are caused by environmental toxins, food toxins, and stress in both the physiologic and psychologic systems.

You can reduce your exposure to oxidative stress by engaging in lifestyle changes such as eating a plant-based diet, avoiding fast food at all costs, avoiding artificial sweeteners, refined sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed food. Environmental pollution is the main contributor, as is exposure to chemicals within your home. Other ways to reduce oxidative stress are by meditating, avoiding smoking, drinking alcohol, and avoiding certain drugs such as specific SSRIs, which stimulate oxidative stress responses, whereas others seem to lower them. Supplementing, exercising in moderation, and keeping psychological stress to a minimum are other ways to reduce exposure and prevent chronic illness.

Gratitude is an absolute game changer.
Science is discovering the role it plays in reducing systemic inflammation. Studies have confirmed its efficacy and it takes as little as 5 minutes spent in a state of gratitude per day to see notable changes in symptoms.
On another point, systemic inflammation creates a mental state known as sickness mentality which is characterized by energy saving behaviors such as sadness, fatigue, altered sleep, and social withdrawal as well as reduced libido and reduced appetite. In other words, chronic inflammation puts the body in an energy saving behavior modality we call depression.

This is a vicious cycle as change becomes difficult when the mind and the body are locked in a pro inflammatory pattern of creating energy saving behaviors (depression) which leads to increased inflammatory markers (disease symptoms).

The goal is to trick the mind into a state of gratitude which is achieved by spending just 5 minutes a day reflecting on all you have in this life to be thankful for, and all you have to offer others. This pattern is not only anti inflammatory, it also puts a person in a state of receivership.

Blessings 🙏