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Depression is a widespread psychological problem that is often ignored by many. Based on figures from the 2003 National Healthcare Quality Report, about 80% of people who are suffering from depression are not taking any treatment. The main causes of this problem include stressors, history of depression in the family, and sudden changes in roles.
Majority of those who are suffering from depression are actually women, particularly those that are in the age of menopause or nearing the menopausal stage. Many experts believe that the declining levels of estrogen in women during and a few years before menopause may also cause the blues.
Symptoms of Depression
Everybody can experience depression at least once in a lifetime. Usually, the bouts of depression only last for a day or two. In menopausal or premenopausal women, however, symptoms of depression last for more than two weeks. Aside from feeling down and miserable, other indications of depression in women may also include feelings of guilt and worthlessness, lack of desire to do anything, severe irritability and restlessness, loss of energy, chronic fatigue and even the desire to commit suicide.
The thing that makes matters worse for menopausal women is that their depression is sometimes either masked or exacerbated by other menopausal symptoms, such as sleeping problems, anxiety, hot flashes, night sweating, and many others. Furthermore, they suffer in silence thinking that the depression and all the other things that they experience during menopause are just consequences of aging.
It is important to note that depression which remains untreated for weeks may lead to more serious matters, such as suicide. Studies show that depression can lead to higher risk of bone loss, heart attack, and stroke.
Managing Depression
There are many synthetic drugs available in the market to treat depression. However, they may cause side effects, so many people are not really confident about taking them. If you are one of those who do not want to take synthetic medications, you do not have to worry. There are many alternative ways to manage, and even treat, depression in women.
Support
One effective way to cope with depression is to seek help of others. Taking therapy sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist can help you deal with your feelings and other causes of your problem.
When you are suffering from depression, and even from other signs of menopause, you need to let your children, partner and family know what you are experiencing. If they are aware of what you are going through, they will be more understanding and quarrels and arguments will be greatly prevented.
You can also join an organization that is geared towards managing depression or helping women cope with menopausal symptoms. Joining such groups will help you realize that you are not alone in battling with these problems. Furthermore, you can also get tips from other women on how to deal with your woes.
Exercise
According to various studies, exercise helps elevate serotonin levels while reducing depression-causing hormone cortisol. Experts believe that a dip in the serotonin levels increases the risk of developing depression. Thus, if you want to minimize your depression-causing hormone and maintain normal levels of serotonin, be sure to exercise regularly.
Dietary Changes
Eating a balanced diet will not only help you deal with depression and other symptoms of menopause, but will also help you maintain a strong and healthy body. Increasing the intake of B vitamins, particularly vitamin B6, and calcium can also help minimize your symptoms of depression.
Supplementation
For women in their menopause or premenopausal stage, another way to address depression is by taking supplements that have phyto-estrogens, plant substances that mimic estrogen in the body. Such products will not only help balance hormone levels, but they will also help in reducing the annoying symptoms of menopause. One supplement that is ideal for menopausal women is Zalestra. For more information about this product, visit www.Zalestra.com.
Due to pollution and unhealthy living, the number of people who easily get allergies, colds and other common afflictions are on the rise. The wide, and oftentimes unnecessary, use of antibiotics also contributes to the growing resistance of many disease-causing microbes to many conventional medications. If you are one of the millions of people who are prone to getting sick or if you simply want to have a stronger immunity against diseases, then you have to take these necessary steps to help beat the bug.
Make Some Changes In Your Diet
Everything you put inside your mouth -- whether food, drinks or medications -- contributes to your overall health. But if what you are consuming are junk and unhealthy foods, then your body will be in a poor shape and prone to many illnesses and infections. Instead of making food the reason why you are getting sick, use it as your ally to a healthy life.
Thus, you better start adding nine servings of fresh organic vegetables and fruits everyday. As you grow older, it would be better to increase the servings of raw fruits and vegetables to your diet in order to maximize the benefits of these types of food. You should also start avoiding sugar-rich foods and those that contain tons of preservatives. Lean meat and fishes are also good sources of protein. Lastly, be more selective with your choice of carbohydrates. Make sure you consume whole grains and oats, instead of processed bread and pasta.
Read Between The Lines
Before you put food in your grocery cart, you should first read its label. If the label is as long as Shakespeare's sonnets, then you should think twice before buying it. It is much better to eat food that contains simple ingredients, most of which you can understand. If the components of an item were foreign to you, then it would be better to look for an alternative. You also need to be careful with the low-fat, fat-free, and sugar-free varieties because sometimes these are loaded with ingredients that are more harmful than the ones that have been substituted.
Get Physical
Many studies have confirmed that people who do nothing but sit and watch television all day long are more listless and lethargic than people who get a dose of physical activities everyday. If you want to age gracefully and actively, then you better start moving your butt and perform regular physical activities.
You really do not have to go to a gym to have a dose of exercise. Simply walking your mutt, playing with your child or climbing the stairs are good activities that can help you break a sweat everyday. You can even vary your activities everyday so that you do not have to be bored with what you are doing.
Obtain A Juicer
If you are not fond of munching fruits and vegetables, you can always drink them. One good way of taking advantage of the many nutrients and minerals of raw fruits is by juicing them. In fact, this is a better alternative than popping a pill or taking supplements.
Load Up On Antioxidants
Free radicals are responsible for a wide variety of illnesses and conditions, including cancer and diabetes. In fact, they are also known for causing premature aging. If you do not want to look and feel 70 when you are only 40, then you better find ways to incorporate foods and supplements that are rich in antioxidants.
Do The Detox Twice A Year
Give your internal organs a break by doing two-day fasting and cleansing every two weeks. Eating the good stuff is sometimes not enough to keep you healthy and disease-free. You also need to get rid of the bad stuff. This can be done by undergoing detoxification every now and then. To help you with your detox program, you can use products like Colpurin. To know more about the benefits of this cleansing solution, visit