Bipolar disorder (depression & mania) causes, symptoms, treatment & pathology

Now, we know that mental illnesses are becoming a big menace by the day and so in our topic today we will look at bipolar disorder. Sadly, some people don’t take this as an illness and so we will deeply look at bipolar as an illness. Kama kawaida let us engage in the comment section as we continue learning. Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder characterized by depression, periods of lowered mood, as well as mania, periods of heightened mood. Maybe you’ve heard the term “bipolar” used to describe someone who’s moody, or who has mood swings, but this colloquial use of the term is really different from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder, which used to be called manic depression, is a serious mental illness that causes a person to have dramatic shifts in emotions, mood, and energy levels: moving from extreme lows to extreme highs. But these shifts don’t happen moment to moment, they usually happen over several days or weeks.There are a few different types of bipolar disorders, but there are some common features.

First, the low moods are identical to those in a related disorder - major depressive disorder, also known as unipolar depression. Individuals with this can feel hopeless and discouraged, lack energy and mental focus, and can have physical symptoms like eating and sleeping too much or too little. But along with these lows, the thing that sets bipolar disorders apart from unipolar depression is that individuals can have periods of high moods, which are called manic episodes or hypomanic episodes, depending on their level of severity.

In a manic state, people can feel energetic,overly happy or optimistic, even euphoric with really high self-esteem and on the surface, these might seem like very positive characteristics, but when an individual is in a full manic episode, these symptoms can reach a dangerous extreme. A person experiencing mania might invest all of their money in a risky business venture or behave recklessly. Individuals might talk pressured speech, where they talk constantly at a rapid-fire pace, or they might have racing thoughts and might feel ‘wired,’ as if they don’t need sleep. Manic episodes can also include delusions of grandeur, for example they might believe that they are on a personal mission from God, or that they have supernatural power and they might make poor decisions without any regard for later consequences. The average healthy individual might have normal ups and downs throughout their life, and they might even have some pretty serious lows once-in-awhile, maybe after losing a job or moving to a new place and feeling lonely. An individual with unipolar depression though, might have the normal highs, but they might have some crushing lows that last for a long period of time and may not have an obvious trigger.

Now, for the bipolar disorders, the first one is called Bipolar 1, and these are people that have some major lows that last at least 2 weeks, and some major highs that last at least a week or require hospitalization. That said, untreated manic episodes can last as long as 3-6 months. Depression is seen in most cases, but is not required for a diagnosis.

The second one is called Bipolar-2, and this is when a person experiences similar lows, and has additional highs called “hypomania”, which are less severe manic episodes than we see in Bipolar 1. To qualify for a diagnosis, these hypomanic states need to last at least four days. These symptoms generally last a few weeks to a few months.

The third one is called cyclothymia, or sometimes cyclothymic disorder, and these individuals have milder lows as well as the milder highs or “hypomania” like you see in Bipolar-2, and they cycle back and forth between these two over a period lasting at least 2 years. Sometimes, people with Bipolar disorder can show other, less common symptoms as well, for example having what are referred to as mixed episodes—experiencing symptoms of both depression and mania at the same time. Another symptom they might have is rapid cycling, which describes a situation where a person has 4 or more episodes of depression or mania within a given year.

Like most mental health conditions, the exact underlying cause of bipolar disorder isn’t known, and there is no single “bipolar gene” identified, but it’s thought that there are genetic and environmental factors that play a part. For example, people with family members who have bipolar disorder are 10 times more likely to have it themselves. Another clue is that some drugs and medications can trigger manic episodes, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (or SSRIs).

It’s also worth mentioning that people with bipolar disorder often have other disorders like anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, ADHD, and personality disorders as well, making diagnosis and treatment a real challenge. Even though there’s no cure for bipolar disorder, identifying and treating individuals is really important, since there’s a real danger that the person could harm themselves or even commit suicide.

One of the oldest treatments is also one of the most effective treatments, and that’s lithium salts. Lithium acts as a mood stabilizer—smoothing out the highs and lows they experience. it is much better at treating manic rather than depressive episodes, and so individuals who take it often have to take other medications as well, which can be problematic since some antidepressants (like the SSRIs) can trigger manic episodes in individuals who are predisposed to them.

Other treatment options include antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, and benzodiazepines, but many of these—including lithium—have side effects that can be severe and can lead to non-adherence which can be dangerous for an individual. Unlike certain disorders like unipolar depression, psychological interventions, like talk therapy, or cognitive-behavioral therapy are not particularly effective in treating the manic episodes of bipolar disorder but they can still be very helpful tools to help individuals with bipolar disorder in general—especially after a manic episode has ended. They can also help an individual handle stressful situations that might otherwise lead to a manic episode, thereby helping prevent a potential manic episode in the first place. This brings us to the end of our topic today and thank you for yyour continued support. Keep following and learning and until next time, it’s a bye bye from me.

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How to eat an Avocado: Nutrition Benefits, Tips & Preparation

 

Hello everyone and welcome back. I appreciate you for all your feedback. Let us continue learning.

Today we will look at avocados and their benefits. Are there myths you know about avocados? Mmhh...Some people wouldn’t eat an avocado in fear of it raises cholesterol levels. In our article today, we will look at what exactly are the benefits of avocados. Kama kawaida let us get into it, shall we?

Avocado is highly nutritious and something that you want to include as part of your daily diet for optimal health. Now some people fear that it is high in fat and calories. An avocado, is highly beneficial in all the right nutrients that support our health in so many different ways. What is the nutritional composition and why is this powerful food to include as part of your regular diet? For starters, a medium size avocado is about 300.Calories as part of a whole food salad that is an excellent amount but in general, consuming a half or one avocado a day is considered fine and healthy.

Aside from the calorie content, you can expect to find about 12 or 13 grams of fat in about half an avocado or about 25 grams in a full one. Fats in avocados are extremely beneficial to our health. There are so many different fatty acid benefits like oleic acid that makes up pretty much half of the avocado's fat. What makes these fats so powerful is that they help to make your brain function properly and they help to build your cells. A lot of us don’t understand that our cells need a fat composition in order to be built and work properly. Avocados are also beneficial for your heart health. Remember that fat, as long as it's the healthy fat, can actually decrease your risk of heart disease and improve your cardiovascular health. Avocado is also highly anti-inflammatory in nature, which is one of the major risk factors, as is inflammation for heart disease.

The healthy fats also are vital in proper absorption, of not just fat soluble vitamins, but a lot of the antioxidants, specifically carotenoids contained in avocado.

Avocados are extremely rich in a variety of different antioxidants, specifically from the carotenoid group. Now carotenoids you may be familiar with from foods like carrots. The green fleshy part is extremely rich in a number of different carotenoids, one of them being lutein and as we know today lutein is extremely beneficial for proper eye health.

Aside from brain health, heart health, eye health and being extremely anti-inflammatory, which just helps all parts of our health, the benefits of eating an avocado also include anti-cancerous because of the antioxidants that it contains. The avocado also helps us regulate our blood sugar to support our health on so many different levels and enhances our overall good health. Avocados are also rich in various vitamins and minerals specifically vitamin K, vitamin C, some of the B vitamins, like vitamin B5 and B6, as well as potassium.

Avocados can be put into salads because they really invigorate salads to become whole meal ideas.

Another way is to use it on different meal ideas or as a side to different meals.

Avocados go great with almost any food, as their taste is quite mild. Slightly on the sweet side but generally mild, so they go really well with everything.

Guacamole is another famous food that you may want to try using fresh avocados. It is absolutely amazing when you make your own homemade.

Bottom line, the avocado is extremely versatile and again, for its nutrition and delicious taste and health benefits, something you want to include as part of your everyday diet.

Here are tips on how to store your avocado.

First and foremost you don't want to cut it up as much as possible. if you know you're only going to eat half, store the other half, with it’s shell and, if possible pit. The pit will actually help it stay longer and fresh, and put it in a sealed container.

You can also sprinkle some lemon juice to prevent that oxidation or browning process.

 If you do make a meal with some avocados and you're storing that for later, please note that they might turn bit grey or brown which is not a big deal. Storing cut avocados for long decrease the nutritional composition. Cooking avocados will only destroy nutrients like the vitamins, the minerals, the phytochemicals, the carotenoids, and the antioxidants. They are best eaten raw, and as part of any meal.

19 Amazing Health Benefits & Uses of Sea Moss For Skin, Hair Face & Weight Loss

 Karibuni sana family and let’s continue with our health check and today we look at the amazing benefits of SEAMOS.

Sea moss goodness.

Sea moss is a species of red algae that grows near the coastline in rocky areas of the Atlantic coast in it’s natural state. Color varies between brownish purple to greenish yellow.  In this blog we will look at 19 reasons why you should be consuming SEAMOS regularly.It promotes digestion:  Seamoss  is known to ease many digestive issues such as indigestion, ulcers and constipation.  It  is said due to the jelly-like consistency of Seamoss it can provide relief to all inflamed mucous membranes by coating the intestinal wall and at the same time pulling toxins out of the body.

It is rich in vitamins and minerals: Seamoss  is loaded with nutrients that are vital to the human body such as Sulfur, Calcium, Iodine, Magnesium, Phosphorus Manganese,  and Potassium just to name a few.

It provides recovery: Seamoss provides relief from muscle and joint pain. Whether you are a professional athlete, fitness enthusiast or perform any kind of heavy lifting, Seamoss can help replace the minerals that you deplete the body of when performing these activities.

It is good for skin: used typically as skin and hair toner and nourisher, seamoss can be applied directly to the skin. It works great on sunburn, dermatitis psoriasis and eczema.

It helps in weight loss: regular consumption of Seamoss can help in keeping obesity at bay being a low calorie food item rich in nutrients.  It can make a great choice for all weight loss programs.  It’s prowess to absorb the moisture improving it’s volume and fills the intestinal tract with it’s bulk material, thereby offering a fuller feeling to prevent you from binge eating and snacking.  It also helps in eliminating the waste by passing it along the gastrointestinal tract.  The rich iodine content in it accelerates the thyroid function energy and promotes weight loss.

It aids in quick digestion: Sea moss is loaded with rich fiber that makes it mild and useful. It can also soothe the tissues that are inflamed in the intestinal walls to offer good relief for all kinds of disorders.  The properties that seamoss has helps in soothing the digestive tract membranes.  It also eases vomiting, indigestion, heartburn and nausea.

 It boosts Mental Health: seamoss has a high amount of potassium which is essential for the smooth functioning of your body cells as your body cannot conserve potassium.

 it is important for you to add seamoss in your diet to promote your mental functions and behavior. It  also helps you to get a good relief from anxiety disorders, depression, moodiness and agitation.  Seamoss also has algin which is a phytonutrient with an impressive therapeutic value that helps it to perform like a heavy-metal detoxifying agent.  This ingredient in seamoss helps in removing the heavy metal residue from your body tissues.

It is a natural decongestant: being rich in potassium chloride, seamoss is also effective in breaking down excess mucus caused by conditions that inflame the mucous membranes, thanks to this characteristic.  Seamoss is able to naturally alleviate congestion in the sinuses and lungs being especially helpful in cases of the common cold pneumonia or bronchitis.

It suppresses appetite:  seamoss is a great appetite suppressant due to its high concentration of minerals and its nutrient density due to its jelly-like consistency.  When seamoss is consumed it passes through the intestines and soothes any inflammation as well as remove any toxins.

Seamoss consumed regularly will help eliminate cravings and as a result bring the body back to its natural weight based on your level of activity and nutrition.

It helps cure anemia: when the oxygen circulation in your body becomes very low, it results in low hemoglobin levels and decrease red blood cells. Seamoss combats anemia by preventing iron deficiency and maintaining the red blood cells as well as the haemoglobin count. This in turn promotes the immunity level and improves the functions of the brain.

It effectively treats wounds: the content of collagen in seamoss enables this natural ingredient to quickly recover wounds.  As we know, collagen is very good in composing skin complexity by strengthening the connective tissues thus also good to consume seamoss as food or use the gel as a topical treatment to boost the recovery process of a post-surgery wound.

It is a natural painkiller: the anti-inflammatory property in seamoss enables the it to reduce inflammation in any part of the body while relieving the pain caused by the inflammation.  Seamoss can be used as refreshing food or drink.  The gel can be used as natural painkiller for joints muscle, stomach and for headaches.

It is used to treat thyroid disorder:  seamoss or Irish moss contains good amounts of iodine which aid the production of thyroid hormones. This way the consumption of seamoss may prevent some thyroid disorders caused by lack of thyroid hormone production by the thyroid gland.

It cures herpes: research shows that seamoss may benefit people suffering from cold sore.  In 2015, a study was conducted that showed that algae may be an effective antiviral for herpes virus.  The algae were investigated for its chemical compounds and some of those compounds were found to enhance the recovery of proteins, neutral sugars and sulfates.

 The researchers suggest that seamoss could possibly be used as an effective antiviral for cold sores in the future.

It supports heart health:  disorders of the heart and cardiovascular system in general are due to some sort of issue in regulating blood flow.  Seamoss reduces the possibility of suffering from heart conditions due to its ability to boost blood flow and improve oxygen delivery to tissues.  It also contains antioxidants that help prevent oxidative destruction of blood vessels and tissue cells by free radicals.

It helps cure diabetes:  people with diabetes may be able to ease their condition by taking seamoss supplements.  Other species of algae and seaweed have been tested for their effects on diabetes. Since seamoss is closely related to those species of algae, it would make sense that it would share many of the same beneficial properties.  Other species of algae has shown to lower bad cholesterol and influence glycemic control.

It is used for hair growth:  like lotions and creams, seamoss is often added to other personal hygiene products like shampoo and conditioner.  Though the effects of seamoss in those products has not been measured clinically, many people claim to have shinier, smoother and silky hair.

When using seamoss based hair products regularly, seamoss may even stimulate the scalp and promote healthier hair growth according to many hair care forums.

It is used in brewing:  not only is seamoss used medicinally but it can also be used in the process of brewing beer.  Seamoss has been used in the brewing process for over two centuries.  The key to brewing beer with seamoss is with carrageenan.  Carrageenan is added to the brew during the last 20 minutes of the boiling phase and this addition is what clarifies the beer.  Without seamoss, beer would be foggy and may not have a crisp or clean taste.

It is a source of energy:  the iron content of seamoss helps in quick transportation of oxygen to your body cells. It also aids in promoting the metabolic enzyme process which is important for absorbing the nutrients and promotes the digestion of proteins in the foods.  This weed also helps in improving the concentration and improves the muscle strength by offering instant energy to your body.

How to use CMOS from cooking to skincare to supplements

Seamoss can be used in many forms but its most common form is an ingredient for cooking.  Seamoss can be used as dried or fresh seamoss.

ü  If the moss is dried, you can soak it in water for a few hours then rinse away any sand.

ü  If sea moss is fresh, just wash it thoroughly and get cooking.  After rinsing your seamoss, you can simmer it in clean water until it's tender then mash it into a paste. That paste will be a nutritious ingredient for foods such as smoothies, soups, stews, salad dressing, homemade nut, milk, cheese, raw desserts, chocolate and of course if you don't feel like preparing sea moss you can still enjoy it's  numerous benefits by consuming seamoss  supplements in form of capsules.

ü  Sea moss can greatly enhance the nutritional value of your meals making it an excellent ingredient to use on a daily basis.

ü  How much seamoss you consume on a daily basis is up to you.  However, there are exceptions.

ü  If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid seamoss for the time being and do not feed it to infants as it may suppress their immune system. 

ü  If you have chronic bleeding disorders or hypertension, use seamoss with caution.

Nb: add seamoss in your kitchen ingredients and promote your daily health.  See you in the next blog

 

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THE HEALTHIEST FOODS WITH NO CARBS & NO SUGAR

 Hello beautiful family and welcome to our today’s  #allmattershealth and today we look at healthy foods with no cabs and sugars. Let’s engage in the comment section, shall we?

 Now, if you want to lose weight and get healthy, it's important to lower the amount of carbohydrates that you eat. Junk foods are high in processed carbohydrates and refined sugars that have been proven to cause inflammation throughout the body such as in your liver, which then produces more body fat.

This leads to a great range of illnesses, such as diabetes, weight gain, obesity,nerve damage, heart attacks, strokes and many more problems.

Here we will look at  a list of 12 healthy foods which contain very low carbs and sugars (less than 3g) that will bring in lots of nutrients to your body and allow it to heal naturally.

Remember to always talk to your doctor on the Dos and Don’ts inorder to keep your health in check.

 1. Eggs 0.6g Carbs, Per Egg  -  Eggs are a great of source choline and lecithin which can break down fat inside your liver and help to you loose weight. They are also rich in protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals which help the body cells to heal and grow. Eat 2-4 eggs on a daily basis to boost your nutrition to keep you full and  massively reduce cravings for snacks and junk foods.

 2.Kale 0g Digestible Carbs -  Organic kale is one of the most nutrient dense super food on the planet. This leafy green vegetable contains 2x Vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk, and more potassium than bananas. Start eating this lightly steamed as a side dish or blended into smoothies daily to see some major health improvements in your body. It contains no starches or sugars, only healthy forms of fiber.

 3.Red Meats 0g Carbs - Meat  essential blood building source of protein that is rich in bioavailable iron and vitamin B12 needed for the development of strong healthy muscles.

 4.Cheese 0.4g Carbs, Per 1oz

Cheese is a healthy source of fat soluble nutrients such as Vitamin A,

E, D and K2. Eating this helps calcium to be absorbed into your bones, teeth and nails.It also contains healthy fatty acids and proteins which can improve brain health and concentration levels.Use high quality cheese from grass fed animals.I recommend cheddar, camembert, halloumi, brie, goats cheese and mozzarella.

 5. Pecan Nuts 1g Net Carbs, per 1oz - Pecans contain a very low amount of net carbs, but contain high amounts of soluble fiber which helps to control your blood sugars. Pecans are rich in zinc, copper, Vitamin B1, and monounsaturated fat which will keep you feeling satisfied and less likely to crave junk foods when losing weight.

6. Cauliflower & Cruciferous 0g Digestible Carbs - when improving your health or losing weight it's 100% essential that you load up on leafy greens in the cruciferous family like cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage,  arugula, and collard greens. These are densely packed full of phytochemicals that help your liver to remove toxins from your body.

You need to eat these to meet your potassium and magnesium needs, two essential minerals that help lower insulin resistance so that you can burn fat at a rapid rate.

 7. Wild Salmon 0-0.1g Carbs, Per 3oz - when following a low carb diet, oily fishes are some of the best natural sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids that you can eat. Omega 3-s from wild salmon, sardines, mackerel and anchovies lower inflammation throughout

your body and reverse oxidative damage caused by eating sugary food.

 8. Butter 0.1g Carbs Per 100g - Pure butter is one of the healthiest sources of retinol to protect and rejuvenate your eyes, skin and hair. Cholesterol in butter is essential for your body to build hormones like insulin, estrogen, testosterone or cortisol, which are all needed in balance to help you lose weight.

 9. Sauerkraut 0.1g Net Carbs, Per 1oz – this is a form of fermented cabbage and is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C and probiotics. You can eat this 2-3 times per week to boost the amount of friendly bacteria in your body, helping to support gut health and lower your blood sugars for weight loss. It's very easy to digest for those with digestive problems like acid reflux.

 10. Avocados (0-4g) & Olive Oil (0g)  

When cutting out carbs and sugar, you'll definitely want to add more healthy fats into your diet, to help control your appetite. Avocados are one of the most nutrient dense foods  and are rich in monounsaturated fats which provide energy to your cells. They are also rich in potassium, magnesium and Avocatin B, all of which improve hormonal balance, insulin resistance and help your body metabolise and burn fat. Similarly, extra virgin olive oil is one of the healthiest cooking ingredients  loaded with anti-inflammatory chemicals like oleocanthal and oleuropein which can get rid of pain, swelling, joint pain, inflammation and improve liver health.

 11. Nutritional Yeast - When you're on a diet or exercising heavily,

your body uses up its B-vitamins to help break down your stored fat and turn it into energy. This can leave you depleted, causing you to feel weaker, tired and it can even trigger anxiety and mood disorders in some people. Start consuming 1-2 tablespoons of unfortified nutritional yeast daily. This is rich in the B-Vitamin complex and will help to fix your metabolism, lower cortisol (stress), and support heathy weight loss.

 12. Herbs (0g) & Spices (1-3g) Carbs, Per Tsp

To heal any ailment or to lose weight, eat freshly chopped herbs in salads on a daily basis. Some of the best are mint, basil, parsley, oregano, cilantro, dill, rosemary and thyme.These do not contain any starches, but are packed full of healing antioxidants and phytonutrients that support weight loss and blood sugar management.

Spices like turmeric, cinnamon, coriander seeds, black pepper and ginger are also recommended.

These are some of the nature's most powerful natural healers which help to repair the liver,the pancreas, and the digestive organs.

 Spices contain a very tiny amount of carbs, but you don’t need much to get the benefits and give your meals a delicious flavour.

 Losing Weight Fast If your' goal is to lose weight there are some simple tricks and techniques that you can also use to help turn your body into a fat burning machine.

 1.Perform intermittent fasting at least 2-4 days per week. Eat all of your calories and food in a shorter window of time. You do this in a 5 hour window, and allow your body 19 hours to fast. Fasting makes your cells more sensitive to insulin, allowing more energy, fat and fuel to be burned so that you can lose weight faster. Fasting also stimulates autophagy, your body way of cleaning out damaged cells, recycling them to build new healthy parts.

 2.Start taking a digestive enzyme supplement before each meal.

Choose a brand which contains bile, pancreatic and betaine hcl.

These ingredients help your gallbladder and your pancreas to release bile and enzymes that break down fat, and clean out your digestive system.

3.Avoid all starchy, sugary and processed carbohydrates like bread, cereal, pasta, rice, biscuits, potatoes, soda, doughnuts etc. These foods raise your insulin and blood sugars, which prevent you from losing weight.

 4. Eat lots of healthy fats that I've already talked about today, like avocados, eggs, and raw coconut oil. These help your body to switch from burning glucose (sugar) to burning body fat (adipose tissue).

 5. Keep your stress levels low, because stress hormones (cortisol) makes you gain weight. Taking long walks in nature, getting more sleep and deep breathing exercise can all be used to minimize stress, which helps balance hormones.

 6. Drink at least 1 litre of water each day. I hope that you find this helpful in your journey to health eating. For more healthy tips, keep it

 

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