When asked, Most individuals find themselves locked in the ‘mad, sad, glad’ triad and really struggle to identify and feel many other feelings. Take a moment now & think to yourself, What am I feeling? When was the last time you really sat to think about how you were feeling & how those feelings occurred in your body.

See the feelings wheel: The Emotion Wheel: What It Is and How to Use It (positivepsychology.com)

The Tao of Fully Feeling incorporates reclaiming our feelings by focusing on ourselves & what we have control over. It also allows us to center ourselves in the fullness & richness of our feelings without numbing. It can often be a long journey back to our own feelings but the value is tremendous. We can help guide you here at STA. There are many things that block our ability to feel; being too busy, substances, over eating, compulsively worrying about others problems, etc.. Sound familiar?

We often get stuck in ‘fight or flight’ instead of living in a fully mindful place. We get trapped in blame and the hustle & bustle of keeping up with everyone else instead of taking time to fall into mindfulness practices such as yoga, meditation, journaling, recovery meetings, walking in nature. When we are not able to sit fully in our feelings, We are also unable to set boundaries, communicate our truth to others and also to fully live in the vessel of our bodies.

If you’d like to read more, please find the attached article: Pete Walker, M.A. Psychotherapy (pete-walker.com)

If you or someone you know is looking to learn about feeling more fully, please reach out today. We have many individual & group therapists and we look forward to helping you!

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The post What is the “Tao of Fully feeling”? appeared first on Specialized Therapy.

What are Psychoactive Hallucinogens?

Psychoactive compounds or psychedelics are known to induce hyper-realistic hallucinations. The “trip” however, is more than just a random high. Research suggests that hallucinogens like Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, DMT, and LSD can rearrange and rewire neural pathways. Brain mapping images of individuals on psychedelics clearly show the brain light up like never seen before. Distinct regions of the brain which do not necessarily work together, are seen to operate in coordination with one another under the influence of psychedelics. In fact, psychoactive compounds are experiencing somewhat of a renaissance today, and more and more people in the field of science are asking: could it be possible to treat mental illness with these compounds?

To answer that question, we need to define psychedelics first. Psychedelic substances are defined as “classic serotonergic hallucinogens” as they directly interact with the 5-HT system, primarily acting as 5-HT2A receptor agonists. However, the mechanism of action is way more complex than previously thought, and they also bind to 5HT1A, 5HT2B, 5HT2C, 5HT6, and 5HT7 receptors with variegated neurological, physiological, and psychological implications.

What effect do these psychoactive compounds have on the brain?

5-HT receptors are associated with the release of neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Dopamine, Acetylcholine, etc., that tremendously affect mood, behavior, libido, sleep patterns, and sensory modulations. Consequently, functional imaging studies show that psychedelics massively increase the processing of sensory information and induce altered integration of sensory perceptions. This creates a novel experience for the user. However, psychedelics alter information processing systems within the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical feedback loops. LSD and psilocybin enhance overall interaction between sensory and somatomotor brain networks while decreasing communication among associative brain regions, including large-scale brain networks (such as the Default Mode Network). In fact, LSD, Psilocybin, and DMT vastly increase functional connectivity between the thalamus and sensory-somatomotor cortical regions.

One of the signature features of psychedelics is an alteration in visual perception. These have repeatedly been associated with a reduction in α oscillations, particularly over posterior parieto-occipital brain areas. This suggests that psychoactive compounds greatly enhance the excitability of the visual pathway. However, the most fascinating fact about psychedelics is that they are capable of permanently changing/rewiring neural connectivity and creating novel neural connections which can massively affect/alter behavior permanently. Could this somehow help people with mental illness?

Treating mental illness with psychoactive hallucinogens

Data from double-blinded clinical studies suggest that Psilocybin, commonly found in magic mushrooms, greatly reduces cluster headaches, anxiety, anorexia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and substance abuse. However, people with chronic mental illness almost often tend to suffer from neurological or psychological loops they fail to break away from. Since psychedelics are capable of creating novel connections between neurons in the brain and can rewire the neural network, the patients could break away from ruminating and destructive thought processes.

Psychedelics like DMT, Psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD can enhance associative learning, a cognitive function that is greatly impaired by neuropsychiatric disorders like Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Studies suggest that psychedelics like LSD, DMT, and Psilocybin can greatly assuage symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder, PTSD, major depression, suicidal behavior, chronic anxiety, panic attacks, schizophrenia, and chronic insomnia. Some studies suggest that Psilocybin could even help patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease regain brain function. Lisuride, a non-hallucinogenic structural analog of LSD, exhibits antidepressant properties in several clinical studies. MDMA has been shown to have a significantly positive effect on PTSD patients. Overall, the pattern among numerous clinical studies is quite obvious. They all report that psychedelics in general can massively decrease the symptoms associated with mental health problems in the participating population.

In 2023, we are getting closer every day to when psychedelics could soon be approved by the FDA. Oregon has already approved the use of psilocybin starting January 1st, 2023. It is only a matter of time before the general population can legally explore the healing potentials of psychoactive compounds. However, the secret to success is micro-dosing.

Meanwhile, if you or anyone you know is suffering from mental illness, neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol addiction, brain trauma, cognitive deficiency, or undergoing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, please contact Specialized Therapy Associates at 201-488-6678 or The Functional Medicine Center for Personalized Care, LLC (www.FxMedCenters.com) at 201-880-8247 for our Integrative Mind-Body Health services which can greatly help you with holistic mind-body healing.

Reference:

Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM. The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017 Oct;42(11):2105-2113. doi: 10.1038/npp.2017.84. Epub 2017 Apr 26. PMID: 28443617; PMCID: PMC5603818.

De Gregorio D, Aguilar-Valles A, Preller KH, Heifets BD, Hibicke M, Mitchell J, Gobbi G. Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine. J Neurosci. 2021 Feb 3;41(5):891-900. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1659-20.2020. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PMID: 33257322; PMCID: PMC7880300.

Fuentes JJ, Fonseca F, Elices M, Farré M, Torrens M. Therapeutic Use of LSD in Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trials. Front Psychiatry. 2020 Jan 21;10:943. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00943. PMID: 32038315; PMCID: PMC6985449.

Vargas MV, Meyer R, Avanes AA, Rus M, Olson DE. Psychedelics and Other Psychoplastogens for Treating Mental Illness. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Oct 4;12:727117. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.727117. PMID: 34671279; PMCID: PMC8520991.

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Although Ketamine’s antidepressant mechanism of action is still being thoroughly studied, it is an antagonist of the glutamate receptor subtype that is widely expressed in the central nervous system. (CNS). In addition, it also serves as the mTORC1 pathway activator. N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor or NMDAR is a G-protein coupled receptor, and it plays crucial roles in synaptic plasticity and memory formation within the brain. mTORC1 pathway is responsible for translational processes that regulate cell growth and proliferation.

Ketamine has recently shown promising research in the treatment of certain psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation, and substance abuse disorder. Due to its euphoric, dissociative, and hallucinogenic properties, ketamine abuse has led to its strict regulation and availability. However, in several clinical trials, Ketamine is largely effective in patients with treatment-resistant depression. In fact, Ketamine seems to work within 40 minutes of administration, and sub-anesthetic dosage can slowly help patients in therapy recover from severe symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). Most studies agree that Ketamine has curative anti-depressive properties when administered in sub-anesthetic doses.

Although Ketamine could induce manic episodes in patients with bipolar disorder, case studies and open-label trials suggest that Ketamine when administered non-intravenously can be safe and effective for treating bipolar disorder. Additionally, studies also found that Ketamine treatment has a massive impact on suicidal ideation. Patients with suicidal thoughts were administered sub-anesthetic doses, and effects were observed within 4 hours of treatment. The single dose of Ketamine largely decreased suicidal ideation among the patients while also reducing suicidal tendencies for up to a week. However, long-term efficacy is yet to be determined. Overall, Ketamine has been shown to generate anti-suicidal thought processes irrespective of its anti-depressive properties, which itself is a significant breakthrough!

Besides having a significant curative impact on depression, suicidal behavior, and bipolar disorder; Ketamine was also studied for its impact on social anxiety disorder and general anxiety disorder. Six studies that used Ketamine on their patients found that Ketamine when administered at certain doses greatly reduced general anxiety and social anxiety among the participating patients. Surprisingly, patients who initially responded to Ketamine treatment continued to be in remission even after three months of the initial treatment with some help from maintenance treatment. However, the treatment also found that higher doses (1mg/kg) of Ketamine had the most anxiolytic effect although this could induce drug dependency.

A few studies conducted among USA military personnel and other PTSD patients also show promising results. Ketamine largely exhibited relief from PTSD episodes and physical symptoms in a majority of the participants. Additionally, sub-anesthetic doses were also seen to have a promising impact on people with OCD.

While psychedelics have already made a comeback in 2023, it is only a matter of time before FDA-approved treatment approaches with Ketamine and other psychoactive substances become a reality. When it comes to Ketamine, under sub-anesthetic doses, the drug undeniably has curative effects on several mental health disorders.

if you or anyone you know is suffering from mental illness, neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol addiction, brain trauma, cognitive deficiency, or undergoing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, please contact Specialized Therapy Associates at 201-488-6678 or The Functional Medicine Center for Personalized Care, LLC (www.FxMedCenters.com) at 201-880-8247 for our Integrative Mind-Body Health services which can greatly help you with holistic mind-body healing.

References:

De Gregorio D, Aguilar-Valles A, Preller KH, Heifets BD, Hibicke M, Mitchell J, Gobbi G. Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and K. J Neurosci. 2021 Feb 3;41(5):891-900. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1659-20.2020. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PMID: 33257322; PMCID: PMC7880300.

Mandal S, Sinha VK, Goyal N. Efficacy of therapy in the treatment of depression. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019 Sep-Oct;61(5):480-485. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_484_18. PMID: 31579184; PMCID: PMC6767816.

Walsh Z, Mollaahmetoglu OM, Rootman J, Golsof S, Keeler J, Marsh B, Nutt DJ, Morgan CJA. K for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: comprehensive systematic review. BJPsych Open. 2021 Dec 23;8(1):e19. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2021.1061. Erratum in: BJPsych Open. 2022 Jan 18;8(1):e29. PMID: 35048815; PMCID: PMC8715255.

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Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine have recently discovered that sleeping for less than 4.5 hours a night and more than 6.5 hours a night, accompanied by poor sleep quality, can gradually attribute to cognitive decline. However, cognitive decline is not the only major concern for a sleep-deprived individual.

Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can substantially intensify amygdala reactivity to negative emotional stimuli. Amygdala is a complex part of the limbic system that processes emotions such as fear and aggression. In addition, the amygdala plays a pivotal role in decision-making and reward processing.

Amplified activity in the Amygdala makes the sleep-deprived individuals feel negative emotions more strongly while also intensifying an individual’s reactions. Sleep-deprived individuals are more prone to irritability, emotional volatility, anxiety, aggression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide completion. Additionally, sleep deprivation can severely impair the activity of the salience-detection network (amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, and anterior insula), resulting in the inability to accurately interpret visceral emotions and facial expressions on other people. For instance, even a simple harmless glance could be misperceived as a judgmental rejection. Disruption in the salience-detection network results in altered social behavior, mood disorders and can even reduce self-awareness.

Sleep deprivation also severely disrupts the dopaminergic system. Dopamine is associated with the reward center of the brain and just one night of sleeplessness can reduce the availability of D2 and D3 receptors with varying adverse consequences. Changes in dopamine receptors have been associated with impulsiveness and severe inability in decision-making.

Chronic sleep deprivation or insomnia may also result in depression. Several longitudinal studies clearly show that chronic insomnia and alterations in sleep patterns increase the likelihood of depression.

Sleep deprivation can lead to the accumulation of adenosine; a neurotransmitter secreted by astrocytes, a type of glial cell in the brain. This increased build-up of adenosine in the cortex and basal forebrain can sometimes induce a transient mood-altering effect that lasts for up to 48 hours. Although adenosine is certainly necessary for the normal functions of the brain, overproduction and prolonged extracellular accumulation may result in chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and organ damage. This may not only lead to brain fog, but also may attribute to further worsening of adverse impulses and negative emotions. Chronic sleep deprivation thus intensifies negative feelings, induces mood disorders, and can result in reduced self-awareness.

Sleep deprivation can also make you overthink certain memory events of the past and can even alter your memory of negative experiences. The result is sometimes a modified and yet empathically fueled recount of a previous experience that your brain considers accurate. However, in reality, the situation may not even be as bad as you think! This could be a result of disruption in synaptic and memory consolidation attributed to impaired hippocampal cAMP and mTOR signaling. Nonetheless, if you are sleep-deprived, it is time to seek help!

If you or anyone you know may be suffering from sleep disorders or any other mental and physical health concerns, please contact The Functional Medicine Center for Personalized Care, LLC (www.FxMedCenters.com) at 201-880-8247 or Specialized Therapy Associates at 201-488-6678

Ishtiak Ahmed Chowdhury

References:

1. Krause AJ, Simon EB, Mander BA, et al. The sleep-deprived human brain. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2017;18(7):404-418. doi:10.1038/nrn.2017.55

1. Al-Abri MA. Sleep Deprivation and Depression: A bi-directional association. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2015;15(1):e4-e6

3. Havekes R, Abel T. The tired hippocampus: the molecular impact of sleep deprivation on hippocampal function. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2017;44:13-19. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2017.02.005

4. Borea PA, Gessi S, Merighi S, Vincenzi F, Varani K. Pathological overproduction: the bad side of adenosine. Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(13):1945-1960. doi:10.1111/bph.1376

5.  Website: Melatonin: Is it safe for treating insomnia? (specializedtherapy.com)

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Unlike baby blues or postpartum blues in which symptoms appear and resolve quickly (within 2 weeks) after the birth, PPD is more severe and can even last up to one year. The symptoms of PPD include suicidal or self-harming tendencies, reduced interest in activities, abrupt mood swings, thoughts of harming the child, depressed mood, low self-esteem, constant and unexplained fear, insomnia, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc.

Although rare, a more severe illness is the postpartum psychosis which occurs approximately in 0.2-0.3% of the child births. In such cases, the mother suffers a break from the reality and experiences severe psychotic episodes. In fact, the delusions are extremely severe. They only make sense to her, and her beliefs lead to self-harm or even harming the child in some cases. The symptoms include hallucinations, hyperactivity, delusions, paranoia, irritability, rapid mood swings, etc.

Regardless of the severity in symptoms, postpartum depression and psychosis can have long lasting negative consequences on the well-being of both mother and the child. Although the conditions are deeply complex in nature, there are several root causes. These causes can be associated with the development of postpartum depression or psychosis.

During pregnancy, the female body is inundated with Estrogen and Progesterone; two of the most essential hormones associated with gestation. However, there is a rapid fall in the level of these two hormones right after childbirth. Although the relation is still under ongoing research, this rapid and extreme fall in the hormone levels may have a detrimental impact on the mother’s mental health. In addition, social and psychological changes arising from added responsibilities and pressure (financial difficulties, low social support) may surmount to postpartum depression. If unaddressed, this ultimately leads to unfavorable mother-infant interactions, attributing to adverse infant development that may include severe health risks.

When it comes to postpartum psychosis, the most alarming risk factor is either personal or a family history of bipolar disorder. In addition, any previous unreported psychotic episode, rapid fall of estrogen and immune system dysfunction may result in postpartum psychosis. Furthermore, maternal deficiency of the enzyme steroid sulfatase (encoded by X-linked STS gene) is also a culprit. The deficiency is a prime candidate for the development of postpartum psychosis.

The silver lining is, both postpartum depression and psychosis are treatable and quick recovery is possible if addressed immediately. In fact, functional medicine and appropriate psychotherapy can pave the way to efficacious results. However, it is very important that the mother goes through a screening during and after the pregnancy so that she can receive the much-required attention.

Ishtiak Ahmed Chowdhury

References:

Lara-Cinisomo, Sandraluz Akinbode, Tanitoluwa Demilade (2020). Research Recommendations on the Effects of Postpartum Depression and Pain on Infant Care and Development. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 49(5), 416–422. doi:10.1016/j.jogn.2020.05.005

Gavin, N. I., Gaynes, B. N., Lohr, K. N., Meltzer-Brody, S., Gartlehner, G., & Swinson, T. (2005). Perinatal depression—A systematic review of prevalence and incidence. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 106, 1071–1083. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG 0000183597.31630.db

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While depression remains an agonizing concern for many people in the United States and worldwide, the treatment regimens have remained fairly traditional throughout the history of this disorder. Many scientific studies attribute the imbalance in the ratio of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in the brain as a root cause of serotonin receptor changes that are observed among patients with major depression.

Despite the various biological factors like genetics and hormonal and receptor imbalances, other factors like socio-economic conditions, trauma, highly stressful childhood events, and cultural factors could ultimately lead to depression.

The current treatment for depression generally involves therapy and medication. However, studies indicate that drugs like SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) are not nearly as effective as previously thought. Several breakthrough studies suggest that despite the traditional approaches, the rates of depression in adults haven’t improved in the past 20 years, even after prolonged administration of SSRIs, SNRIs, and TCAs coupled with therapy.

While psychiatrists commonly use the DSM-V manual in the traditional approach and base their diagnoses on clinical symptoms, it never truly shines a light on the root cause. Additionally, medications like SSRIs have severe long-term side effects that are detrimental to the well-being of the patients.

This is where functional medicine attempts to induce a paradigm shift in modern clinical psychiatry. According to the Institute of Functional Medicine, it is a focused alternative approach to recognizing and addressing the underlying root cause of a disorder. Current practices in psychiatry utilize a symptom-based approach emanating from generic DSM-V-based evaluation. However, Functional Medicine considers the brain in the context of total mind-body health and offers a tangible solution.

For instance, it may dive into the root cause via brain mapping to investigate aberrant wave activities. In addition, functional medicine also considers other psycho-social factors attributing to the root cause of depression among patients. In addition, functional medicine also tries to understand the peripheral systems and peripheral hormones that could perhaps be associated with depression. For instance, although the normal range of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is between 0.4 – 4.0, several studies indicate that people whose TSH levels range between 2.5 to 4.0 tend to suffer from depression. In addition, different inflammatory disorders (IBD) and gastrointestinal tract imbalances could also result in depression.

Studies have clearly shown a direct correlation between mental health and the abundance and variation of the gut microbiome. For instance, a study published in 2015 revealed that indigenous spore-forming bacteria derived from mouse and human microbiomes play a major role in serotonin production via colonic enterochromaffin (EC) cells, thus modulating peripheral Serotonin levels. In addition, another study published in 2019 successfully analyzed the gut-brain axis in association with tryptophan metabolism: an amino acid crucial to the production of Serotonin in the human body.

Hence, it is clear that there are multiple dimensions to treating depression, which indeed is one of the most complex manifestations of clinical disorders to date. However, functional medicine holistically outshines traditional approaches by exploring all those dimensions and offering systematic treatment to major-depression patients. This certainly is a silver lining for all the individuals who have been combating depression and seeking a remedy.

If you have mental or physical concerns, contact Specialized Therapy at 201-488-6678. You could also contact The Functional Medicine centers for Personalized Care, LLC at 201-880-8247.

References

Anacker C, Zunszain PA, Carvalho LA, Pariante CM. The glucocorticoid receptor: pivot of depression and of antidepressant treatment. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011;36(3):415-425. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.03.007

Kaur Harrisham, Bose Chandrani, Mande Sharmila. Tryptophan Metabolism by Gut Microbiome and Gut-Brain-Axis: An in silico Analysis. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2019;13:1365. doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.01365

Syme, KL, Hagen, EH. Mental health is biological health: Why tackling “diseases of the mind” is an imperative for biological anthropology in the 21st century. Yearbook Phys Anthropol. 2020; 171: 87– 117. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23965

Yano JM, Yu K, Donaldson GP, et al. Indigenous bacteria from the gut microbiota regulate host serotonin biosynthesis published correction appears in Cell. 2015 Sep 24;163:258]. Cell. 2015;161(2):264-276. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.047InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Depression: How effective are antidepressants? [Updated 2020 Jun 18]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361016/

Young EA, Lopez JF, Murphy-Weinberg V, Watson SJ, Akil H. Mineralocorticoid receptor function in major depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003 Jan; 60(1):24-8. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.60.1.24. PMID: 12511169.

Website: https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics

Website:https://www.mhanational.org/research-reports/2021-state-mental-health-america

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Carbohydrates are often demonized by the media and diet culture as being a source of weight gain. Low-carb diets are more popular than ever. It started with the rise of the Atkins diet in the early 2000s, and by the time that fizzled out the Keto diet came to fame in 2013. Are carbs really the enemy that we have made them out to be? Let’s find out.

Carbs are often avoided by many who are wanting to lose weight. This usually involves skipping processed and simple carbs such as pasta, bread, cookies, cake, donuts — you get the point. However, carbs are virtually impossible to avoid as an entire macronutrient category. They are found in all plant foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, beans, and legumes. They are also found in dairy products — the only animal food containing carbohydrates in the form of sugars (i.e., lactose). 

Processed carbohydrates are detrimental to our health when consumed on a long-term basis as they often contain high amounts of added sugars, fat, and preservatives. They typically spike blood sugar and over time, erratic blood sugar levels can lead to prediabetes and diabetes, hormone dysregulation, fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and more. Unprocessed and unrefined carbs in the forms of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes are foods that will digest slowly and allow for a steady supply of energy, avoiding those drastic highs and lows in blood sugar. These foods are typically also rich in fiber as well as carbs.

Let’s look at the 4 different categories of processed foods:

1. Unprocessed or minimally processed foods are slightly altered for the main purpose of preservation without altering the nutritional content of the food. This includes cleaning or removing inedible parts, refrigerating, pasteurization, fermentation, freezing, and vacuum sealing. This category includes many fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, meats, and milk. 
2. Processed culinary ingredients are ingredients derived from a minimally processed food by pressing, refining, grinding, or milling. They are used as ingredients in preparing meals or dishes. Some examples include oils made from seeds, nuts, or plants or flours made from whole grains. These items are typically not eaten on their own.
3. Processed foods are foods that have added salt, sugars, or fats. This includes some canned fruits and vegetables, cheeses, and fresh bread. These foods can be eaten without further preparation and are made from at least 2 or 3 ingredients. 
4. Ultra-processed foods are foods that have the same qualities as processed foods but also have added colors, preservatives, and flavors.  They are more shelf-stable and palatable due to the preservation of tastes and textures through added ingredients. Some examples are chips, cookies, crackers, cereals, lunch meats, and frozen meals. 

Due to the way most food is processed — generally, the more processed the food is, the less of its original benefits it is able to maintain. This includes the loss of vitamins, minerals, and fiber as well as the addition of salt, sugar, fat, preservatives, colors and dyes, and more. 

Food for Thought:

Brown rice is a whole grain that would fall into the unprocessed/minimally processed food category. When brown rice is stripped of the husk, bran, and germ to leave the starchy endosperm we get white rice. This is still a minimally processed food on its own, but when you buy something such as a white rice kit that comes with a spice packet or flavor packet such as Rice-A-Roni, becomes an ultra-processed food. This is a great example of minimally processed food not being the best option and how a minimally processed food can become an ultra-processed food with the addition of a spice or flavoring packet.

Fiber is needed for healthy digestion and elimination. Fiber also acts as a prebiotic; this feeds the good bacteria in our microbiome. Your microbiome is the trillions of bacteria that live in your digestive tract. By feeding these good ‘gut bugs’ they repay us by producing things like:

• Short-chain fatty acids — SCFAs for short, these molecules are vital for maintaining the health and integrity of the gut lining. These are the preferred fuel source for colonocytes AKA the cells that line the inside of your intestines. Unhealthy or weak intestinal walls can lead to issues related to food sensitivities, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and more.
• Vitamin K — Vitamin K is synthesized within the GI tract, specifically in the large intestine.  Specific bacteria synthesize Vitamin K2 and this vitamin is used in the body for blood clotting and coagulation.
• Vitamin B1— B vitamins are water-soluble, meaning that we do not have the ability to store them within the body as efficiently as fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Those of us who are under high stress, taking certain medications, or lacking a diverse diet burn through these B vitamins even faster than usual. Approximately half of the microbes in your microbiome are able to produce thiamin (B1) from scratch using protein building blocks.

How do carbs benefit our mental health? 

Well, some of the most important hormones and neurotransmitters for optimal mental health are also synthesized in the GI. Chemicals such as serotonin (the happy hormone) are synthesized there. The brain and gut have a deep connection that many people do not recognize. There is bidirectional communication between the two through the vagus nerve, immune system, SCFA production, and more. What does this mean? It’s a two-way street. The gut communicates to the brain and the brain to the gut. This is why many people with conditions such as anxiety experience digestive issues. 

If you or someone you know has ever taken medication for depression, there’s a good chance it was as SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). Many people fail to see that without serotonin readily available to reuptake, the patient will get little effect from this medication. Eating a diet rich in complex carbohydrate-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes will feed those good bacteria with fiber and they will benefit you right back.

Sarah’s Story:

Sarah was suffering from anxiety and mild depression and was seeking to try some natural remedies. She had learned about the importance of the microbiome and was looking to focus on this area of her health to help improve her symptoms.  She was taking a high-quality probiotic but saw little improvement.  Upon consulting a nutrition professional, she was guided in switching up her diet to remove processed and ultra-processed foods, inflammatory foods, and foods that came back as reactive on her food sensitivity test. She replaced many of the packaged and prepared foods she was having with unprocessed and minimally processed options. In just a short time she experienced mental clarity, her skin improved, her digestion was better than ever, and overall, she was feeling so much better. By feeding those good ‘gut bugs’ she was able to reap the benefits of the high-quality probiotic because she was not only repopulating with beneficial bacteria but also giving them the food that they want and need to benefit us in return. Sarah now maintains a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes. She has seen the value and importance of whole foods, fiber, and taking care of her microbiome through food.

If you are interested in learning more about the interplay between nutrition and mental health, please contact us at 201-488-6678 or visit https://www.specializedtherapy.com/. We look forward to speaking with you!

Bastiaanssen, T., Cowan, C., Claesson, M. J., Dinan, T. G., & Cryan, J. F. (2019). Making Sense of … the Microbiome in Psychiatry. The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology, 22(1), 37–52. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyy067

Kazemian, N., Mahmoudi, M., Halperin, F., Wu, J. C., & Pakpour, S. (2020). Gut microbiota and cardiovascular disease: opportunities and challenges. Microbiome, 8(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-020-00821-0

Putnam, E. E., & Goodman, A. L. (2020). B vitamin acquisition by gut commensal bacteria. PLoS pathogens, 16(1), e1008208. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1008208

Swann, O. G., Kilpatrick, M., Breslin, M., & Oddy, W. H. (2020). Dietary fiber and its associations with depression and inflammation. Nutrition reviews, 78(5), 394–411. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz072

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BPA: a chemical that plays a role in more than just plastic, but a hormone too!

By now, we’ve all heard about BPA, right? If not, you’re in the right place! In this article, you’ll learn about the history of BPA as a toxin, why it proposes a threat to you and your family’s health, and strategies on how to reduce your exposure.

BPA is an abbreviation for bisphenol A- a chemical used to make hard plastics that are used in many things, from plastic bottles to Tupperware containers to plastic toys to the lining of food and beverage cans. It’s even in thermal paper receipts! BPA permeates our industrialized world, food supply, and modern-day lifestyle.

BPA was first synthesized by chemists 130 years ago. It wasn’t until the 1930s that scientists discovered it had estrogen activity in the body (1). Upon this discovery, BPA was intended to be used as an estrogen replacement drug until a more potent synthetic hormone was invented (1). However, BPA didn’t go anywhere… it found its new role in the future of plastics (1). BPA was first used in the epoxy lining of cans, metal piping, adhesives for flooring and sealing teeth and eventually made its way into plastics in the late 1950s.

In 1958 the FDA passed the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act in an attempt to regulate chemicals added to packaged foods. Since BPA was only thought to make its way into food and beverages through leaching of epoxy resin from the lining in cans and showed no indication of being harmful to humans, there was no regulation of BPA in our food supply until 1988.

In 1993 BPA’s estrogenic activity was brought back into the limelight. For the first time, it was proposed as a threat to human health as an endocrine disruptor, meaning it disrupts normal hormonal function, processing, and transmission in the body. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s plastic became a political battle with industry lobbyists trying their best to bury the evidence that BPA was, in fact, harmful to human health. By 2005 there were 115 studies on BPA exposure and 90% of them found dangerous health effects of BPA, especially in infants and children. Not surprisingly, the 10% of studies that didn’t find an effect were funded by the plastic industry (2). Major concerns were expressed regarding findings of impaired fetal prostate and mammary gland development, disruption of chromosome alignment in developing eggs, immune system impairment, as well as metabolic and neurological abnormalities (1,2).

Fast forward to 2008 and The Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction released a final report on BPA stating that “the possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed”, and that there is “some concern for the effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposure to BPA” (3). Following this report, six of the major baby bottle producers announced the removal of BPA from their products; and in 2012 the FDA finally banned the use of BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups, and epoxy resin in infant formula packaging (4).

However, this chemical is still present and allowed in teethers and children’s play toys. Despite the growing evidence that BPA is harmful in young children, the Toy Association still considers it safe and allows it to be in toys and game products (5).

Today, hundreds of research studies show a relationship between BPA and an increased risk for behavioral disorders like ADHD, anxiety, depression, and aggression in children (6,7).

What’s more, is that the BPA levels originally recognized as safe for human ingestion by the FDA may not be as safe as originally intended. BPA has shown to interact with and bind to thyroid hormone receptors and could play a role in autoimmune thyroid disease (8). Furthermore, BPA has shown to be an obesogenic toxin and is linked to diabetes, weight gain, heart disease, liver inflammation, cancer, and infertility. Disturbingly, a nationwide study found that 89% of individuals ages 6 years and older had detectable levels of BPA in their urine (9).

Here are some actions you can take to minimize your family’s and your own BPA exposure:

1. Only purchase baby toys, canned foods (soup, soda, sparkling water, beans, vegetable cans), and Tupperware containers that say “BPA-free” on the label.
2. Drink from a reusable stainless steel or glass water bottle instead of plastic ones (this is also better for the environment, so it’s a win-win).
3. Don’t microwave leftovers in plastic containers, BPA and other plasticizers (like phthalates) can leak into your food. Instead, transfer the contents to a glass or ceramic bowl or heat on a stovetop if possible.
4. Skip the receipt! This will do you and your cashier a favor for reducing toxic BPA (and its cousin BPS) exposure from thermal receipt paper. Simply touching receipts (also boarding passes, tickets) with your hands is enough to absorb it through the skin. Ask for an emailed or text receipt instead! If you need to handle a receipt, wash your hands with soap and water as soon as possible!

These are actions you can take to reduce your BPA exposure! If you have any questions on the impact this chemical has on you or your child’s health, click here and submit a question to our “Ask a Therapist” column and we can answer it in our next newsletter!

These are actions you can take to reduce your BPA exposure right now! If you have any questions on the impact this chemical has on you or your child’s health, click here and submit a question to our “Ask a Therapist” column and we can answer it in our next newsletter!

References:

1. Vogel SA. The politics of plastics: the making and unmaking of bisphenol a “safety”. Am J Public Health. 2009;99 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S559-S566. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.159228
2. vom Saal FS, Hughes C. An extensive new literature concerning low-dose effects of bisphenol A shows the need for a new risk assessment. Environ Health Perspect. 2005;113(8):926-933. doi:10.1289/ehp.7713
3. Shelby MD. NTP-CERHR monograph on the potential human reproductive and developmental effects of bisphenol A. NTP CERHR MON. 2008;(22):.
4. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/bisphenol-bpa-use-food-contact-application
5. https://www.toyassociation.org/PressRoom2/IndustryStatements/statement-on-bisphenol-a.aspx#:~:text=It%20has%20been%20specifically%20chosen,items%20has%20been%20phased%20out.
6. Li Y, Zhang H, Kuang H, et al. Relationship between bisphenol A exposure and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder: A case-control study for primary school children in Guangzhou, China. Environ Pollut. 2018;235:141-149. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.056
7. Ejaredar M, Lee Y, Roberts DJ, Sauve R, Dewey D. Bisphenol A exposure and children’s behavior: A systematic review. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2017;27(2):175-183. doi:10.1038/jes.2016.8
8. Eschler DC, Hasham A, Tomer Y. Cutting edge: the etiology of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2011;41(2):190-197. doi:10.1007/s12016-010-8245-8
9. Lakind, J.S., and D.Q. Naiman. 2008. Bisphenol A (BPA) daily intakes in the United States: estimates from the 2003-2004 NHANES urinary BPA data. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology 18 (6):608-15.

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Your child’s favorite breakfast cereal could contain toxic pesticides!

Did you know that oats, rice, and wheat are major but lesser-known, sources of toxic pesticides?

The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that at least half of our dietary intake of grains be from whole grains as a part of a healthy diet¹. However, less than 5% of Americans meet the recommended dietary intake for whole grains (≥ 3 oz/day)¹. Contrarily, over 95% of Americans meet the recommended dietary intake of refined grains (≤ 3 oz/day)¹ mostly in the form of packaged and processed foods (i.e., white bread, white rice, cereal, pasta, cookies, cakes, bagels, doughnuts, crackers, chips). Refined grains are stripped of their outer bran and germ layers during manufacturing- the parts of the grain that contain the majority of its nutrients (fiber, vitamins, and minerals)- leaving behind the nutrient-depleted endosperm. This process makes refined grains far less nutritious than whole grains.

The Standard American Diet is heavily laden with processed foods made up of refined grains, sugar, salt, and fat. This combination of nutrient-poor, calorically dense ingredients may be why processed food consumption has been linked to the obesity epidemic² and an increased risk for other non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and depression³.

Despite the USDA’s attempts to shift American plates to contain more whole grains, there is still nationwide overconsumption of refined grains. Why? Perhaps it’s due to the addicting nature of processed foods? Or that refined grains are cheaper and more accessible than whole grains? Or maybe it comes down to an education issue with less than half of low-income adults able to correctly identify whole grains from refined grains⁴.

In any case, processed food consumption keeps the demand for grains high. So high that the government pays farmers extra to grow wheat, corn, soy, rice, and oats in order to keep up with the demands of the market². As a result, monocropping, or only growing one crop at a time without rotation, has become a popular agricultural practice². Monocropping requires heavy pesticide application to kill any unwanted weeds or insects that may potentially contaminate crops, resulting in a streamlining of harvests².

Cue RoundUp, the most widely used pesticide in U.S. agriculture with 1.1 billion pounds applied annually⁵. The active component of Roundup, glyphosate, targets the shikimate pathway of weeds, insects, and fungi, the pathway responsible for their growth, abolishing them on the spot. Glyphosate is a water-soluble chemical that has made its way into our soil, food, air, and water supply. In 2015, the World Health Organization classified glyphosate as a neurotoxin, teratogen (a substance that may cause birth defects), and a “probable human carcinogen”⁶. Despite this, the EPA states glyphosate as having low toxicity for humans⁷ and U.S. regulators allow an acceptable daily intake of 1.75 mg/kg of body weight per day compared to the European Union which only allows 0.3 mg/kg of body weight per day⁸.

Glyphosate is sprayed directly on wheat and oats before harvesting to kill the crop and dry it out sooner than if the plant were to have died naturally⁹. In 2018, the Environmental Working Group tested more than a dozen brands of wheat and oat-based cereal products and found most samples exceeded the upper limit of “safe” glyphosate levels set by the EPA⁹. This is of special concern for 1- to 2-year-old children since they’re smaller and tend to consume oat and wheat-based cereal products often. The worst offenders were Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats (930 ppb), Quaker Oats Dinosaur Eggs (700 ppb), Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal (497 ppb), and Lucky Charms (400 ppb)⁹.

Glyphosate has also been linked to disruption of the gut microbiome, autism, ADHD, birth defects, celiac disease, diabetes, depression, cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, dementia, obesity, and leaky gut¹⁰.  This proposes the question, is it the consumption of ultra-processed foods contributing to the exponential rise in chronic, non-communicable disease? Or is it the presence of glyphosate on our grains and in our food supply that we are encouraged to eat as a part of a healthy diet?

Regardless, to limit your and your children’s exposure to glyphosate opt for organic options and skip the non-organic packaged wheat, corn, soy, and oat-based cereal and processed food products! This way you can avoid toxic pesticides.

For more information on Toxic Pesticides, please visit us at Specialized Therapy Associates or call 201-488-6678 to book an appointment.

Tune into our next newsletter for part 3 of “Raising awareness: the dangerous truth behind the toxins present in our food supply”.

References:

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov.
2. Franck C, Grandi SM, Eisenberg MJ. Agricultural subsidies and the American obesity epidemic. Am J Prev Med. 2013;45(3):327-333. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.04.010
3. Lane MM, Davis JA, Beattie S, et al. Ultraprocessed food and chronic non-communicable diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 43 observational studies
   [published online ahead of print, 2020 Nov 9]. Obes Rev. 2020;10.1111/obr.13146. doi:10.1111/obr.13146
4. Molika Chea, Amy R Mobley, Factors Associated with Identification and Consumption of Whole-Grain Foods in a Low-Income Population, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 3, Issue 7, July 2019, nzz064, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz064
5. Atwood, Donald, and Paisley-Jones, Claire. “Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage: 2008-2012 Market Estimates.” Environmental Protection Agency, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2019, from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-01/documents/pesticides-industry-sales-usage-2016_0.pdf
6. https://www.who.int/foodsafety/faq/en/
7. https://www.fda.gov/food/pesticides/questions-and-answers-glyphosate#:~:text=Has%20the%20EPA%20established%20tolerances,from%200.1%20to%20310%20ppm.
8. https://oehha.ca.gov/media/dockets/8594/10069-dave_murphy_food_democracy_now/fdn_glyphosate_foodtesting_report_p2016_002a_0.pdf

9. https://www.ewg.org/childrenshealth/glyphosateincereal/#.W3Q-B9hKjEY
10. https://www.fs.usda.gov/nfs/11558/www/nepa/102900_FSPLT3_4047514.pdf

The post Toxic Pesticides in Children’s Breakfast Cereal ! first appeared on Specialized Therapy.

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The Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization have classified heavy metals as toxic to human health because they interfere with normal physiologic function and cause an increased risk for cancer, dementia, neurotoxicity, kidney disease, liver disease, insomnia, emotional instability, depression, and in high enough doses, death (2,3,4).

Babies and children are even more susceptible to the dangerous health consequences of toxic heavy metal exposure because they are growing and developing at a rapid rate. Even low levels of toxic heavy metal exposure are linked to irreversible brain and developmental damage (1).  Research has shown that heavy metal exposure can cause a permanently reduced IQ and an increased risk for criminal and withdrawn behavior in children (1,5).

In November 2019, government officials requested internal documents from seven of the largest baby food and infant formula manufacturers in the U.S. based on studies that found high levels of toxic heavy metals in their finished products (6,7).

The brands under investigation included:

• Nurture, Inc. (makes Happy Family Organic and HappyBABY baby food)
• Beech-Nut Nutrition Company
• Hain Celestial Group (makes Earth’s Best Organic baby food)
• Gerber
• Campbell’s Soup (which makes Plum Organics baby food)
• Walmart (Parent’s choice)
• Sprout Foods, Inc. (Sprout Organic Foods)

Only four of the seven companies in question agreed to cooperate with the investigation (Nurture, Beech-Nut, Hain, Gerber) raising concern that the non-responders may have even higher levels of toxic heavy metals than their competitors.

All responding companies had arsenic, lead, and cadmium present in their baby food. Not all companies tested for mercury, but the ones that did had exceedingly high levels. On top of that, reports showed up to 91 times the arsenic level, 177 times the lead level, 69 times the cadmium level, and 5 times the mercury level allowed under existing regulations by the FDA and EPA.

How does something like this happen? Present-day industrialized food manufacturing processes raise the risk for heavy metal contamination in our food supply (including baby food!) through mechanical processing by means of heavy machinery or leakage from packaging materials (6).

What can you do to protect your child from heavy metal exposure in their baby food? Make your own! Making your own baby food is the best way to have control over your child’s exposure to heavy metals as well as know exactly what is going into their food from start to finish. Steaming fresh, organic fruits and vegetables (ex: apples, bananas, pears, peaches, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas) will retain nutrient quality and composition better than boiling. Puree cooked fruits and veggies with a small amount of water or breast milk until smooth and serve. Don’t add sugar, syrups, or artificial flavorings as these can be harmful to your child’s growth and development as well. Instead, try using cinnamon or mix in pureed sweeter fruits like apples or pears.

If you don’t have the time to make your baby’s food research baby food brands and infant formula that test for the presence of heavy metals, like Cerebelly.

Tune into our next newsletter for part 2 of “Raising awareness: the dangerous truth behind the toxins present in our food supply”.

Click here to sign up for the newsletter if you haven’t already!

1. https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-02-04%20ECP%20Baby%20Food%20Staff%20Report.pdf
2. https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6577/heavy-metal-poisoning#ref_13375
3. Jan AT, Azam M, Siddiqui K, Ali A, Choi I, Haq QM. Heavy Metals and Human Health: Mechanistic Insight into Toxicity and Counter Defense System of Antioxidants. Int J Mol Sci. 2015;16(12):29592-29630. Published 2015 Dec 10. doi:10.3390/ijms161226183
4. https://www.fda.gov/food/chemicals-metals-pesticides-food/metals-and-your-food
5. Pan S, Lin L, Zeng F, et al. Effects of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury co-exposure on children’s intelligence quotient in an industrialized area of southern China. Environ Pollut. 2018;235:47-54. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.044
6. Vella C, Attard E. Consumption of Minerals, Toxic Metals and Hydroxymethylfurfural: Analysis of Infant Foods and Formulae. Toxics. 2019;7(2):33. Published 2019 Jun 8. doi:10.3390/toxics7020033
7. Gardener H, Bowen J, Callan SP. Lead and cadmium contamination in a large sample of United States infant formulas and baby foods. Sci Total Environ. 2019;651(Pt 1):822-827. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.026

The post Toxic Heavy Metals in Baby Food – What To Do! first appeared on Specialized Therapy.

The post Toxic Heavy Metals in Baby Food – What To Do! appeared first on Specialized Therapy.