The Moody Blues

Bad Mood? Good Mood? No Mood? What is a mood and where does it come from? Mood is defined as a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion. Moods are how we express happiness, sadness, anger, loneliness and depression. Moods are caused by changes in brain chemistry. The main brain chemicals that effect mood are neurotransmitters called dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. If these chemicals are out of balance our mood changes without rhyme or reason. Poor eating habits have a direct effect on mood. This is because the three mood related brain neurotransmitters are dependent on nutritional needs for their proper chemical make-up. For instance, proper protein, fat and carbohydrate intake directly influences the production and more importantly the balance of mood altering / enhancing neurotransmitters. Vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains are the type of carbohydrate that we should eat to regulate our blood sugar levels. In addition to aiding neurotransmitter production, these carbs help with blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels drop, a person's mood can drop as well. On the other hand, protein moderates mood changes due to the stabilizing effect it has on blood sugar and also because all the neurotransmitters are made up of the building blocks of protein called amino acids. Eat lean meat, eggs, turkey, chicken, dairy, nuts and beans for your wholesome protein choices. Essential fatty acids are extremely important for mood. Research has shown that Omega 3 fats, due to their ability to make neurotransmitters work more efficiently, regulate mood and prevent depression. Add the following fats to your diet if you can: Fish oil, flax seed oil, walnut oil and olive oil.

Thought for the Week: "Instead of loving your enemies, treat your friends a little better." -------- Ed Howe

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: The brain sends mental impulses through the spinal cord and then out through the spinal nerves to the rest of the body. This is how the body works and how the body stays healthy. If there is an interference in the mental impulse or nerve flow from the spinal cord and or spinal nerve, the body cannot function properly or be healthy. Chiropractors remove that interference. allowing the body to function properly.

Headaches Got You Down

I recently came across some research studies concerning headaches. At one time or another, every person on the planet will have some form of a headache. If 80% of the population has had back pain at one point in there lives, it is safe to say 100% of the population has had a headache. The two most common types of headaches are Migraines and Tension headaches. Tension headaches are simple to describe. These are the headaches that come from tension to the muscles of the shoulders and neck. Muscles contract, pull on the cervical vertebra, disrupt nerve flow and impede circulation to the head. This causes headaches. Eliminate the tension and the headache will go away. Most people who suffer from regular tension headaches have a chronic tension headache problem. The solution to correcting the tension requires a little more effort on the sufferers part. Chiropractic, stress management, acupuncture and massage are helpful in correcting this problem. Migraine headaches are the more severe headache and can put sufferers out of action for days. One of the more common triggers of migraine headaches is the consumption of foods containing phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is an amino acid that is contained in MSG, artificial sweeteners and nitrates. Monosodium Glutamate is a big offender. MSG is such a big trigger of headaches that food companies sometimes will not list it as an ingredient. The following food additives contain MSG: Calcium caseinate, sodium caseinate, autolyzed yeast and hydrolyzed protein. Recent nutrition research may help migraine sufferers. 400mg of riboflavin for 3 months reduced headache attacks by by 67%. Vitamin B2 cut the number of headache days by 50% and in a double blind study, 600mg of magnesium reduced attack frequency by 41%.

Thought for the Week: "Why search the world over for an exterminator or an antidote for a disease? Why not look for the cause of the ailments in the person affected and then correct it?" ------------- BJ Palmer, D.C.

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: Misaligned, subluxated vertebra occur from stress or tension on the muscles. It only makes sense then, that Tension Headaches can be corrected with chiropractic care. Spinal adjustments relax muscle tension by balancing the muscles in the neck and shoulders. The correction of the subluxation also eliminates nerve disruption and improves circulation, thus correcting cervical tension headaches. Migraine sufferers often find relief when cervical subluxations are corrected.