Poor mental health seems to be on the rise in modern society. A vital strategy for maintaining a balanced mood, good energy levels, and sound brain connection is to be aware, to be present. To be open to new ideas, behaviors, and perceptions.
While genetic predisposition certainly increases our risk for mental illness, the following wellness practices can improve your mental health:
- Lifestyle changes;
- Healthy dietary choices;
- Detoxification;
- Natural supplementation;
- Better management of stress; and
- Avoidance of addictive chemicals, alcohol, and drugs.
How mood, memory and sleep impact your mental resilience
According to specialist physician and pioneer of aging medicine Dr. Craige Golding, there are well-researched alternatives to the overprescribing of chemical drugs to manage mental illness. Micronutrient depletions from the chronic use of pharmaceuticals should also be addressed. An understanding of the major neurotransmitters involved with mood, memory, motivation, sleep and a balanced, healthy mind is required.
An Integrative Approach to Mental Wellness
Boost your immune system
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for stronger immune systems. We all know that sunlight exposure, vitamin D, and vitamin C are very beneficial for optimum immune system health. Other useful nutrients include zinc and ionophore-type nutrients to get zinc intracellularly. This will assist with optimum antiviral protection. These include nutraceuticals such as quercetin and/or egcg (a green tea extract), and resveratrol.
Medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, maitake, and shiitake are also useful for immune support.
Of course, there are many other immune-supportive strategies to consider. This includes exercise and a healthy. Also a balanced diet with a wide variety of colorful foods.
A healthy immune response
For a healthy immune response against a viral attack, other treatments include:
- intravenous ultraviolet light
- intravenous vitamin C
- hydrogen peroxide nebulizations
- infrared saunas
These help the heat-sensitive viruses become more vulnerable and susceptible.
Ensure optimum absorption of nutrients
Golding stresses the importance of good gut function because conditions such as leaky gut or hyper-permeable gut can interfere with the absorption of nutrients. He advises following a five-step program:
- Removing any foods from your diet that are getting in the way of a healthy gut. This includes those to which you may have an allergy;
- Replacing that which may be deficient, such as stomach acid or digestive enzymes;
- Repairing the lining of the gut, using specific nutrients;
- Repopulating the gut with quality probiotics; and
- Rebalancing the system.
Nutrient boosting ideas
Other treatment modalities include IV nutrient therapy, where the patient receives a top-up of nutrients, providing a 100% bioavailability, and transdermal therapy, which allows for nutrients to be absorbed through the skin.
Temperature fluctuations place a type of stress on the body that can be helpful. Having a cold shower and then an infrared sauna can be beneficial for physiological adaptation. The idea behind this is that the better you are able to adapt to your conditions, the better your chances of living longer. This relates to your mental resilience and your immune system.
Pro-aging strategies
Several kinds of adaptogenic herbs are used to help your adrenals in alternative medicine. Astroganda, for example, originates from certain mountainous plants that regularly experience severe fluctuations in temperature. They have learned to adapt and survive in hot-to-cold conditions.
Golding says caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, and time-restricted eating are all important pro-aging strategies.
Want to know more?
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