2225 West Alice Avenue - Phoenix, AZ 85021 USA
1-602-995-1580
Newsletter & Health News
Depression
Depression today is usually treated with drugs. However, the SSRI anti-depressants such as
Prozac and Zoloft have potentially serious side effects and do not address causes. Dr. Julian
Whitaker and Dr. Peter Breggin found that almost all so-called rampage murders were
committed by people on SSRI anti-depressants. In one study of women who murdered their
own children, 24 out of the 31 were taking anti-depressants.
Depression is often related to nutritional imbalances. Hair mineral testing is an excellent way to
identify many factors that contribute to depression and guide their correction.
Depression and Energy
A major cause of depression is fatigue. Mineral analysis can often detect causes of fatigue and
exhaustion. These include an imbalanced oxidation rate, vital mineral deficiencies, toxic metal
excess, sugar and carbohydrate intolerance, excessive catabolism or tissue breakdown and poor
protein synthesis. Before discussing these, let us examine the idea that depression can be a
positive adaptation to fatigue and exhaustion.
Depression as a Corrective Measure
Dr. Paul Eck advanced the idea that depression may be a defensive or corrective symptom to
prevent further damage in the face of exhaustion. When one's body is exhausted, depression may
set in as a way to slow one down, to spare the body further damage.
The truth of this idea has been demonstrated a number of times in my practice. Patients who
begin a scientific nutrition program sometimes report their depression is gone, but now they are
exhausted. A few months later, they report their exhaustion is better as well.
This is a retracing process. Fatigue and exhaustion preceded the development of depression.
That is, depression is actually a later stage after exhaustion. Recovery reverses this process. For
this reason, when the depression lifts, one is left with the exhaustion that was underneath it. Then
as healing progresses, the fatigue also lifts.
Depression and the Oxidation Rate
Depression is common in very slow oxidizers and also very fast oxidizers because they do not
produce energy efficiently. These imbalances are similar to running a car engine at the wrong
speed or RPM. The energy efficiency goes down and the car has less power. This leads to
fatigue and often to depression.
Depression is more common in slow oxidizers. These people are characterized by underactive
adrenal and often underactive thyroid activity. The adrenal hormone cortisol induces a state of
well-being or natural "high". When cortisol secretion is diminished, one may often feel low or
depressed. Also, hypothyroidism and hypoglycemia in slow oxidizers can contribute to
depression feelings.
In slow oxidizers, excess tissue calcium has a depressing effect on the central nervous system.
It can also decrease cell permeability, blocking the flow of vital nutrients into the cells. Elevated
tissue magnesium is often biounavailable. Magnesium is essential for energy production.
Slow oxidizers are also prone to candida albicans overgrowth. Candida produces alcohol and
other toxins that can contribute to feelings of depression.
Slow oxidizers are also commonly copper toxic. As discussed below, copper excess is
associated with feelings of depression. Slow oxidizers often don't feel like exercising. Yet
exercise is known to help alleviate feelings of depression.
Slow oxidizers may not feel like eating protein, yet eating more protein and less sugars and
starches helps prevent feelings of depression. Protein foods supply tyrosine, phenylalanine and
other nutrients needed for neurotransmitter production.
Fast Oxidation
Fast oxidizers may also report depression. Fast oxidizers may seem to have plenty of energy,
but this can be deceptive. Often they run themselves hard and become exhausted if they relax.
Very fast oxidizers are not producing energy efficiently and can even become paranoid. Many
fast oxidizers are on an energy roller coaster, because of a diet high in sugar and starches. When
blood sugar drops, depression feelings can become severe.
Depression is more common in fast oxidizers when the sodium/potassium ratio is low. These
people are called burned-out fast oxidizers, or at times called slow oxidizers under stress. With
correction, they often convert to slow oxidizers. Correcting the oxidation rate through proper diet
and supplementation often improves slow and fast oxidizer-related depression.
Copper, Candida and Depression
Copper is sometimes called the emotional mineral because it enhances emotions. One of these
emotions is depression. Copper has diverse effects. It oxidizes and destroys vitamin C which is
needed for adrenal activity. It stimulates the biogenic amines, epinephrine, norepinephrine and
dopamine. It can interfere with thyroid activity, affect energy levels, cause insomnia that results in
fatigue and it tends to raise tissue calcium levels which may contribute to feelings of fatigue and
depression.
Copper imbalance is a potent cause of depression associated with premenstrual tension.
Copper is also often a factor in vegetarians who are depressed. Vegetarian proteins are high in
copper and low in zinc. Also, vegetarian proteins are low in sulfur-containing amino acids needed
to help detoxify copper. Copper toxicity is also associated with food allergies, which can induce
feelings of depression in some people.
A Low Sodium/Potassium Ratio
An empirical finding by Dr. Paul Eck is that a tissue sodium/potassium ratio less than 2.5:1 is
strongly associated with fatigue and hidden copper toxicity. He found this pattern associated with
chronic emotions including frustration, resentment and hostility - all emotions of turning in upon
oneself. Depression is also a form of turning one's attention in on oneself and common when the
tissue sodium/potassium ratio is low.
Toxic Metals
All the toxic metals are directly neurotoxic. This includes cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenic.
These may cause depression by directly blocking certain enzymes related to depression. They
can also impair cellular energy production and induce fatigue that contributes to depression.
Hypoglycemia and Depression
Hypoglycemia causes the brain to temporarily starve for fuel. Depression is one of the main
symptoms associated with hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemic tendencies are identified on hair mineral
analyses by an imbalanced calcium/magnesium ratio, a low sodium/potassium ratio, an
imbalanced oxidation rate or deficiencies of zinc, manganese or chromium.
Diet and lifestyle play important roles in hypoglycemia, although weak adrenals, nutrient
deficiencies, toxic metals, stress and other factors may all be important causes.
Slow oxidizers tend to have chronic low blood sugar due to weak adrenals. Fast oxidizers are
more prone to acute hypoglycemic episodes due to low glycogen reserves, diets low in fats and
oils and an excessive adrenal and thyroid activity.
Other Factors
Food allergies, chronic infections, a deficiency of natural light, lack of exercise and other
factors can also contribute to depression. Dr. Daniel Amen, author of "Healing ADD", found that
often depression is misdiagnosed as ADD.
In addition to a complete nutrition program, symptomatic remedies may help acute symptoms.
These include SAMe (s-adenosyl-methionine), which should be given with extra folic acid, extra
B-complex, especially vitamin B6, adrenal and thyroid support, St. John's Wort,
dl-phenylalanine, l-tyrosine and others. Prescription medication may also be used with the
supplement program if needed.
Copyright © 2001
This material is for educational purposes only
The preceding statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
