[www.keralites.net] Feeling Depressed? It Might Be Down to Brain Inflammation

 

Brain Inflammation Might Lead to Depression! Your body's first line of defense against infection and injury is inflammation. This process will usually shut itself off when healing has finished, but problems can arise when the inflammation process forgets to turn itself off. In this scenario, the inflammation will turn on your body, attacking healthy cells, blood vessels, and tissues instead of protecting them. This is known as chronic or systemic inflammation. This can develop anywhere in the body - including the brain. However, unlike the inflammation of an injury or arthritis, brain inflammation causes no pain due to the fact that the brain has no pain receptors. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean that it does not exist, and is causing hidden damage to your body's most vital organ. Symptoms of Chronic Brain Inflammation While acute inflammation occurs as a result of injury or pathogens, chronic inflammation is often caused by an unhealthy lifestyle that continues to fuel the inflammation response long after it has helped in the healing process. Chronic inflammation can lead to all sorts of seemingly unrelated problems such as: • Allergies • Asthma • Autoimmune diseases • Chronic infections • Colitis • Dermatitis • Sinusitis • Arthritis It has been dubbed a silent killer as it contributes to seven out of ten leading causes of death. Chronic inflammation shuts down energy production in brain cells, causing mental fatigue as well as slowing down the firing of neurons. This can lead to further symptoms such as: • Brain fog • Lack of mental clarity  • ADHD • Anxiety • Memory loss • Slow mental processing • Stroke • Alzheimer's  Furthermore, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that it may also cause depression. In fact, some experts believe that depression may not be a disease, but rather a symptom of inflammation. Chronic Inflammation: A Surprising Cause of Depression The medical world largely feels that depression is caused by low levels of "feel good" brain chemicals, usually serotonin and sometimes dopamine. However, this is only one theory - albeit a widely held one. As a result, millions of people worldwide are prescribed antidepressants based on the brain chemical model of depression. However, they work in less than 50% of those who are taking them, making them little more effective than a placebo. There's another theory that suggests that brain inflammation is the root of all depression. A study carried out in 2015 by Canadian researchers from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health's (CAMH) Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute in Toronto used positron emission tomography (PET) to examine the brains of 20 patients suffering from depression and 20 people who were not. These PET scans revealed the patients who were suffering from depression showed significant inflammation in their brain, and that the severity of the inflammation was concurrent with the severity of their depression. The brains of those who were experiencing clinical depression exhibited an inflammatory increase of around 30%. It was not possible to ascertain whether the depressed patients showed brain inflammation before they became depressed, or after the onset of the first symptoms. However, the team of researchers were the first ones to find definitive evidence of inflammation in brains of those suffering from depression. Your Brain's Immune System It is well-known that our brain has its own immune system. Microglia are immune cells found in the brain that are your central nervous system's first and main line of defense. Their job is to protect your brain and spinal cord from pathogens and to clear away any metabolic debris, such as beta amyloid plaques found in the brains of those suffering from Alzheimer's. By weight, the brain is made up of 50% microglia cells. Once a microglia cell has been activated, it will create inflammation for the rest of its life - there is no "on" or "off" switch. Additionally, they cause a domino effect by stimulating other microglia to become active. There are many health and lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of activating your microglia, producing brain inflammation, and these include: • Diabetes • Lack of exercise • High carbohydrate diet • Chronic stress • Heart disease • Asthma • Head trauma • Gluten (for those who are gluten-intolerant) • Substance abuse • Exposure to environmental toxins • Digestive disorders • Vitamin B deficiency  • Systemic inflammation  • Compromised blood-brain barrier According to Dr. Datis Kharrazian, a compromised blood-brain barrier is one of the leading causes of brain inflammation. The blood-brain barrier is a finely woven mesh of specialized blood vessels and cells that are there to keep foreign substances out of the brain. But when it's damaged, it can become leaky, allowing toxins, and pathogens to enter the brain, which in turn activates the microglia to produce inflammation. Natural Ways to Control Brain Inflammation Inflammation is not an all-or-nothing state, but a continuum. There is no way to get rid of inflammation, and nor should you try to do so, as some inflammation activity is essential. However, you do want to minimize inflammation once it has gotten out of control and its effect have become negative. Here are some great ways to keep chronic inflammation under control. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet The food that you eat can either increase or decrease inflammation. Here's how you can eat more anti-inflammatory foods and minimize pro-inflammatory ones. Give Your Brain an Oil Change One of the simple dietary changes that you can make is cutting back on omega-6 fatty acids found in vegetable oils such as canola, corn, soy, and safflower oil. Instead, switch to extra virgin olive oil and organic coconut oil which both contain anti-inflammatory properties instead. Furthermore, choose grass-fed and pasture-fed meat, poultry, and eggs over grain-fed as these contain more omega-3 fats and fewer inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids.   Eliminate Processed Carbohydrates That Contain Sugar and Wheat Consuming white sugar not only increases brain inflammation, but it also interferes with brain cell communication, slows thinking, and eventually causes damage and death to healthy brain cells. Instead of sugar, use honey since it is an anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibiotic, and antiseptic. Wheat products may harm your brain in a number of ways. If you're among the millions with a gluten sensitivity, eliminating wheat is essential to reduce inflammation in your gut and brain. But even if you don't have a gluten problem, you should still try to limit your consumption. This is why: Wheat raises your blood sugar levels a lot more than white sugar. In fact, two slices of whole wheat toast raises your blood sugar levels more than when you eat a candy bar. Eat and Drink Anti-Inflammatory Flavonols Flavanols are a group of anti-inflammatory compounds found in plants. They can also be found in abundance in chocolate, berries, tea, coffee, beer, and wine. Virtually all herbs and spices are anti-inflammatory, so be sure to include a lot of them in your diet. Ginger, rosemary, and turmeric are among the best for improving brain health and function.     Other Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle Adjustments Besides from altering your diet, there are other aspects of a healthy lifestyle that can reduce inflammation. Getting enough sleep can keep inflammation at bay. Reducing your exposure to artificial light in the evening will help you sleep better as it enables your body to produce melatonin, your body's natural sleep hormone that's also a potent anti-inflammatory.   Making sure that you get at least 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise a day will also help stave of inflammation. Brain Inflammation: The Bottom Line • Inflammation is a necessary response to injury and pathogens, but it can sometimes get out control, becoming chronic.  • Chronic inflammation can occur anywhere in the body including the brain.  • Chronic brain inflammation may be responsible for a wide range of brain-related problems, including depression.  • Adopting a healthy anti-inflammatory lifestyle - making positive changes in diet, sleep, exercise, and stress levels - will help keep inflammation at bay.

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Posted by: Kakdi Raita <kakdiriata@gmail.com>

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[www.keralites.net] Common Mistakes That We All Are Making In A Relationship!

 

Common Mistakes That We All Are Making In A Relationship! We all want a perfect relationship, just like the ones we see in all those candyfloss movies. But in reality, those type of relationships usually just don't exist, and instead, we all have our shares of ups and downs vis-à-vis our boyfriends or our girlfriends. While all of us want to be with someone special who'll perfectly fit into our lives like a missing puzzle piece, how many of us are actually able to maintain our relationship once we get that special someone? Knowingly or unknowingly, many of us are making some common mistakes in our relationships that, if left unchecked, can severely harm our relationships. So on that note, here are seven common relationship mistakes that we all ought to avoid making: 1. Not giving your partner any space. We need to understand that, just like us, our partners are also individuals who have their own mood swings, choices and preferences. Forcing them into things they don't want to do or stopping them from doing what they wish, won't earn you their loyalty. Instead, it'll start earning you their ire and disdain. 2. Depending on your partner way too much. So now you've got this one person in your life who will have to play the roles of a best friend when you want to go shopping, a mother when you need some pampering, a confidant when you need to confess your deepest and darkest secrets and, of course, a boyfriend/girlfriend as well? Doesn't that sound like expecting way too much from just one person? Too much dependence on any one person will only end up driving them away. As such, it's important that you made sure you didn't depend on your partner for EVERYTHING. 3. Trying to change them. When you constantly point out things that are wrong in the other person and that, according to you, need modifications, you'll only be successful in pushing them away. Instead, you should make it a point of appreciating them for who they are, for that is what makes them unique. 4. Constantly whining. No one wants to be around a crybaby. Be it cribbing about your arrogant colleague at work, ranting about the humid weather or arguing over a past fight – it's time you stopped whining to them ALL THE TIME! People want to be around happy people who infuse positivity and spread happy vibes, not those who kill their mojo. 5. Not being there for them when they need you the most. Once in a blue moon, if you weren't able to give them your time when they needed it the most, that's probably still somewhat excusable (though definitely not appreciated). But if you make it a habit of not prioritising them when they need you the most, and constantly ignore them when you really ought to be investing some time in them, then that's an absolute deal-breaker. 6. Not being understanding enough. While we all want to spend some quality time with our bae, we certainly don't want our day to end in a fight. Bailing out on plans, every now and then, could be an issue to argue on, but aren't we gracious enough to understand if he/she is really stuck in an important meeting that just couldn't be missed? C'mon all you beautiful people, I know you are much more understanding than this and, after all, who likes to sleep on a fight?   7. Taking them for granted. Even though it can be unintentional at times, some of us tend to take our partners for granted. Not respecting their feelings and their time will only push them further away from us, and before we even realise it, we may end up losing them.

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[www.keralites.net] 19 of the Coolest Little Towns in the Good Ol' US of A

 

18 of America's Coolest Little Towns! America is one of mankind's most remarkable achievements, some may say the greatest. Yet, to appreciate what makes this proud, young nation stand so confidently amongst its peers, you shouldn't simply visit its major metropolises, the New Yorks, the LAs, the Chicagos. Instead, the places where you really can find the beating heart of rugged, brave, and energetic Americana is in its towns and villages. To discover what we mean, take a look at this exciting tour of 18 of the coolest little towns to be found in the whole of the United States! 1. Athens, Georgia Georgia is in one of the fastest growing US counties, yet the town of Athens is still charmingly rural. What's more, Athens has become something of a cultural hub for all things literary, musical, and artistic. Nearby you can also find nature reserves, romantic riverside trails, and an exciting mountain biking circuit. Full of family-friendly restaurants, Athens is a place that everyone would be proud to call home. 2. Bend, Oregon Whenever anyone comes to Bend, they straightaway feel devoured by envy that they don't live in this wonderful western town. For outdoor activities, the town is unrivaled, boasting options in the Deschutes River watershed and the Cascades. Being close to the high desert, Bend's summers are saturated with warm days and cool refreshing nights. As for the food and music scene, need we say more? 3. Cooke City, Montana Cooke City is in fact just a tiny little village found on the road that joins Mammoth to Tower Junction. The place has become a hot spot for passing snowmobilers and skiers. With Yellowstone National Park and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in the vicinity, there are plenty of reasons why you might be lucky enough to happen upon this charming town. 4. Ocean City, Maryland A resort built for good honest family fun, no stay at Ocean City is ever a disappointment. Whether you spend time in its cool taverns and chat with the funny local characters or just want to stroll on the white beaches with the surfers, this camping paradise has something for everyone - not to mention the thrill of seeing the wild horses enjoying themselves galloping along the coast. 5. Valdez, Alaska Someway off the well-trodden Alaskan tourist path, Valdez is the perfect place to explore the real Alaska. Flanked by the Chugach Mountains and a stunning forest, Valdez can be enjoyed for its fishing, climbing, berry picking, skiing, or hiking. It's also a great location to see waterfalls and glaciers.  6. Asbury Park, New Jersey Asbury is a diverse and friendly modern town on the Jersey Shore, known for its lively music scene - this is where Bruce Springsteen first started out. Though part of the town had become quite dilapidated over time, Asbury has recently been revitalized with some great restaurants and bars. The beers at the Bond Street dive are thoroughly recommended.  7. Yellow Springs, Ohio While most of Ohio is as conservative as it is beautiful, Yellow Springs seems to exist in its own parallel universe. Originally started as a communitarian utopia (which miserably failed - big surprise!), Yellow Springs retains much of its hippie vibe. If being part of the 1960s style counter-culture appeals to you, this is surely a great place to hang out. Famous for its local beer, shopping, art galleries, and music shops, it's hard to imagine a friendlier place.  8. Fairhope, Alabama To understand the true flavor of the south, Fairhope is well worth a lengthy visit. With sun-kissed boardwalks on Mobile Bay, the old downtown, seafood shacks, and incredible southern food, you've got to come here to believe that life really can be that good. 9. Nevada City, California With so many gorgeous historic buildings, it's no wonder Nevada City's downtown features in so many TV and film productions. It seems that this little town was just made to sell postcards, given the amount of beautiful vistas it affords. Furthermore, the town is a mere 25 minutes away from the National Wild and Scenic South Yuba River, with different skiing resorts to be found less than an hour away. 10. Greenville, South Carolina A one time local industrial powerhouse, Greenville has transformed itself into a 21st century urban paradise. With natural wonders to be seen on the foothills of the Blue Ridge and the class V drop Reedy Falls flowing through the town center, as well as some superb modern restaurants, cafes, and green spaces, Greenville is one of the most beautiful and affordable places to live in America. 11. Sandpoint, Idaho This town may only house 8,000 fortunate residents, but if all the world knew its charms it would probably become a metropolis overnight. Seated alongside the shores of the vast Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint is a place of outdoor adventure and good-time family fun. The town also has a great theme park, Silverwood, and a lovely historic feel to it. 12. Fayetteville, West Virginia Just a mile from the New River Gorge and Bridge (the longest arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere), downtown Fayetteville is one of the most visually attractive towns in the East. Once a year, people come from miles around to jump from the bridge - just for the heck of it! In fact, the town is generally known for its outdoor adventure communities, including whitewater paddlers and rafters.  13. Padanaram, Massachusetts Situated between scenic Cape Cod and Boston, Padanaram fishing village opens it swing bridge on the Buzzards Bay every hour in order to allow sailboats into the harbor. This regular routine locks all people into the town until the bridge closes again. All of this has helped bring about a culture where everyone who visits takes it easy at the local farmers' markets, restaurants, and beaches.  14. Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina The locals in Kill Devil Hills to spend all their free time either fishing or surfing. Though it's not easy to get here and join in all that fun, it's sure worth the effort. The giant dunes that make the place famous were where aviation took its very first flights, and you can still relive some of that thrill with some paragliding. Kill Devil Hills also stands at the threshold of the Hatteras National Park. 15. Taos, New Mexico The ancient people of Taos continue to inhabit this western town after a millennia. Visitors who come to see the curious buildings and savor the western style of life are never left in any doubt why the Taos never left! Nearby are some world-class trails and a fantastic skiing area. 16. Two Harbors, California A mere 25 miles from busy LA, Two Harbors feels another world. With just a few residents, one bar and restaurant, this is not the California you expected to see. Yet, what better place is there to enjoy the local sun and sea without the hectic chaos of Los Angeles? 17. Fredericksburg, Texas This town is a great mix of traditional Texan and German culture, with historic buildings, museums, and B&Bs, yet what sets it apart from the rest of the pack is its breathtaking location. Slap bang in the middle of Texas Hill Country, with the Enchanted Rock, Pedernales Falls, Guadalupe River, Canyon Lake and the lakes of Colorado Rover all within striking distance, this is a great place to spend a week or so of your precious time. Austin and San Antonio are also within an hour and a half. 18. Leland, Michigan An ancient Ottawa Indian camp, Leland is probably the best spot on the Great Lakes. Found between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau, this town is prime wine country. There are fewer places with a more beautiful sunset than that which can be enjoyed here.

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Posted by: Kakdi Raita <kakdiriata@gmail.com>

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