by Underground Health Reporter

Treating Depression with Bacteria

Would you believe … that the best, safest, most effective and most affordable natural alternative to anti-depressants may be… bacteria?

Those that take antidepressant drugs number more than 50 million people worldwide! Yet, the evidence points to the fact that antidepressants are far less effective and potentially dangerous – even life threatening – than previously understood.

Thankfully, the researchers at McMaster University in Ontario have some good news for those who struggle with depression and “low moods.” Their recent study discovered a strong connection between gut health – specifically, the healthy bacteria in your gut – and brain function, including mood.

Basically, your gut quite literally “talks” to your brain.

The “cross-talk” that happens between your gut and your brain creates a major influence on the health throughout your body. What has been obvious is that healthy gut bacteria leads to healthy digestion and is a likely prevention of  obesity.

However, we have now discovered that healthy gut bacteria is linked to preventing depression and other psychiatric illnesses, thanks to Jane Foster and other neuroscientists from McMaster.

The good and healthy gut bacteria is maintained and replenished with probiotics. The organisms in probiotic supplements may be the best, safest natural alternative to beating depression without antidepressant medications.

The Problems with Prozac

The sales of antidepressants is one of the biggest money earning businesses in the the United States. Worldwide antidepressant sales total over $20 billion yearly. Since 1994, antidepressant use in the U.S. has shot up by over 400% alone.

While 225 million people were being prescribed antidepressant in 2010, research and post-marketing surveys continue to reveal that these drugs are hardly more effective than the placebo. Antidepressants carry high risks of serious side-effects, including…

  • Blurred vision
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Increased suicide rates
  • Insomnia
  • Nausea
  • Restlessness, anxiety, and agitation
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Weight gain

As you can see, the dangerous side-effects of antidepressants are the same as the symptoms the drugs are meant to treat!

Go With Your Gut to Treat Depression

Probiotics should be your first line of defense – and attack – when it comes to treating depression.  Thankfully, the McMaster study, and others, confirms that probiotics can treat depression, as well as other imbalances of the central nervous system, such as anxiety and insomnia.

One other study that has documented similar results comes from the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre at University College Cork in Ireland. Here, it was demonstrated for the first time that probiotics “have a direct effect on brain chemistry.” This is good news for treating stress-related psychiatric disorders!

Probiotics can treat depression and boost your mood by:

  • Generating a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
  • Enhancing brain receptors for GABA

What is important about GABA? Well, according to Emily Deans, M.D.,

“GABA is a nice glass of wine in front of the fire. GABA is restful sleep. GABA is tranquility and yoga.”

More specifically, GABA naturally has the following results in your body:

  • Calming the nervous system
  • Promoting tranquil sleep
  • Minimizing anxiety
  • Alleviating depression

Who couldn’t benefit from more GABA?

More Bacteria, Please

Probiotics are in the following commonly known foods:

  • Kefir
  • Miso
  • Tempeh
  • Sauerkraut
  • Yogurt

It would be great if you could simply add more probiotic foods to your diet to benefit with a healthy, better mood. Current studies support the use of probiotic supplements in order to significantly replenish beneficial bacteria in your gut and boost GABA.

One last word. Please keep the following in mind when it comes to depression. Experts caution:

  • Anyone struggling with significant depression should always seek professional help, even for natural alternative depression treatments.
  • Never stop taking an antidepressant medication without your doctor’s supervision.

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