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The Blog of Dr. Henry Sobo

THE TOP 10 MOST IMPORTANT NUTRITION AND LIFESTYLE RESEARCH ARTICLES OF 2014

THE TOP 10 MOST IMPORTANT NUTRITION AND LIFESTYLE RESEARCH ARTICLES OF 2014
THE TOP 10 MOST IMPORTANT NUTRITION AND LIFESTYLE RESEARCH ARTICLES OF 2014
Over the past year I’ve shared with you over seventy  postings containing the most important research findings reported in the areas of nutrition, natural treatments, and lifestyle factors that we in Integrative Medicine believe are the best treatments now and for the future.

I would like to share my TOP 10 research articles of the year. The most important criteria that I considered for inclusion in the list was the study’s  importance in changing our understanding or treatment  approach to any disease. In 2014 the facts now show clearly that advising people to eat low fat and low salt is proving to be wrong. Sugar is the problem. Both Picks #1 and #2 for 2014 are on this same crucial topic. Since we will be counting down each day one by one, from #10 to #1, the most important post of the year, a hint as to what I’ve considered the most important information is that 3 of the top 10 posts tell us that eating a relatively low carb diet is the best advice. This  should revolutionize our approach to the prevention of heart  disease, and chronic disease more generally.
 The importance of  exercise takes up three of our top  10. Even if it isn’t big news that exercise is good for you, it is being proven again and again to be helpful in different ways, and it’s importance simply cannot be overemphasized. The  importance to our health  of vitamin D and Omega 3 fatty acids has also been shown over and over again in new research this year. Here is my hope that some reader(s) of my top 10 Research Articles of 2014 will take some the information to heart and it  can inspire  them to enjoy better  health in their lives. If I am of help to any reader in this way, my job will have been well done. Thank you and HERE”S THE TOP 10
#10
 Brain Changes with Physical Activity Mimic Antidepressant’s Effects

In the U.S. and Western industrialized societies depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness. The influence of depression also extends to its effect on a person’s propensity to physical illness.It has been shown that physical illnesses occur to a greater extent in those depressed compared to those who are not depressed. There is great a need for treatments that minimize risks and side effects. Such a treatment for depression may be physical activity.

A study just published from work at the University of Bern,Switzerland shows that physical activity causes changes in the brain, its biology and chemistry, that are similar to the effects of antidepressant medications.
The brains absorption of serotonin is enhanced as it may be with antidepressants. And sports and physical activity are shown to reduce the activity of the stress hormone cortisol.
Lead researcher Mirko Wegner says regarding the data from their meta-analysis, “one can see that sport and physical activity alleviate depression…we were also able to determine that the effectiveness of sport is greater with depressive disorders than with anxiety disorders.”
The study was just published as “Review of Meta- Analyses and Neurobiological Mechanisms. CNS & Neurological Disorders, 2014.

For the best care in Integrative Medicine call the office of Henry C. Sobo, MD at 203-348-8805 or write to optimalhealth@optonline.