 Inspired by author and depression and anxiety survivor Matt Haig, I'm sharing a list of things that can spike or worsen my OCD, rumination, anxiety and stress. And a list of things that have supported my recovery from 19 years of OCD, that make me feel happy in my soul, calmer and which help to quiet my mind. Things that make me worse Poor sleep Staying up too late Doing too much Not resting enough Caffeine Not eating enough protein (meats, fish, eggs) Crowded, busy cities (if I’m there too long)  People sometimes tell me they wouldn’t have thought there was a link between nutrition and mental health. It is my hope the following will help you understand there is indeed a huge link between nutrients, mental health and mental health problems. And by growing our collective awareness of this, we might reduce the stigma of mental health problems and create a climate where more people seek and receive help with their mental health struggles, and go on to live happy and productive lives.
Nutrition does indeed build us — it gives us our very physical foundations — right down to our cells. Cells that make up our brains, brain stems and nerves, our hormone-secreting adrenal glands and ovaries and testes. Cells that make up our hearts and lungs, our complex, mind-blowingly amazing — and often abused — digestive systems. Cells that make up our blood. Immune cells that fight infections and keep us well.  Christmas can be a painful time of year for many people - a time when grief, loneliness, health struggles, depression, anxiety, lack of money, or family trauma can be that much more prominent. And what adds to the pain for many of us, is the loud, deeply contrasting message that this is a happy, merry, joyous time. A time of togetherness, of fun, of treats. A time of spending lots of money and receiving lots of gifts. A time of family. These societal messages can be like salt in our wounds. Yet this common human experience isn’t often talked about. In a spirit of acknowledging our human struggles and sharing ways to care for yourself through tough times, I’ve put together these mental health first aid tips for the holidays. There are tips for those who are: -feeling exhausted emotionally and physically -feeling suicidal -grieving -impacted by toxic family, and -for those who are struggling to sleep. In part one of this series, we’ve looked at cholesterol being a natural substance produced in the human body every day, and one that is vital for health. Now, let’s talk about LDL cholesterol: how it can become elevated in your blood and what you can do about it. We’ll also look at the difference between LDL (so-called bad cholesterol) and HDL (so-called good cholesterol).
Given cholesterol is indeed a health-supporting substance in the human body, a key reason why LDL cholesterol can become elevated in your blood is because the liver is sending out more of it to do its job – repair and support. When inflammation (the body’s response to tissue injury) and free radical damage (unstable atoms causing cellular damage that leads to disease) takes hold in the human body, LDL cholesterol is sent to all our body’s tissues to help keep our cells and organs healthy. So.…what causes inflammation and free radical damage? |
