Estimated reading time: 4mins Despite the festivities and joy that Christmas celebrations can bring for some, for many, it can be a particularly painful time with heightened feelings of loneliness and despair. This may be especially true for those who are isolated or disconnected from their...
Estimated reading time: 6 mins Since 2003, November has been coined ‘Movember’ by the Movember Foundation, originally a campaign that was launched to tackle issues related to prostate cancer and now raising awareness and funds for the biggest issues in men’s health, one of which is...
Estimated reading time: 9 mins Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition that is otherwise known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Due to the diverse set of seemingly unrelated symptoms that people with this condition present with, it is commonly misdiagnosed and can often...
Estimated reading time: 7 mins Periodontitis is another word for gum disease, caused by a specific bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis, that leads to infection of the tissue holding the teeth in place, and as a consequence, symptoms such as bleeding gums and loose teeth. The...
Estimated reading time: 5mins The Gut-Brain Axis The ‘Brain-Gut Axis’ is a term used to describe the two-way communication system between our digestive tract and the brain. A growing body of research into this axis demonstrates how much influence the gut can have over the brain...
Food for the Brain provide evidence based information on numerous conditions that impact on brain health and mental wellbeing. These conditions sit under four umbrellas: Neurological disorders Mental illnesses Conditions related to neurodiversity Conditions of malnutrition, which...
What is the vagus nerve? The vagus nerve is a fundamental part of the autonomic nervous system, which is composed of two key branches; the parasympathetic - the branch that allows us to rest, relax, digest and recharge, and the sympathetic - the branch that is responsible for our...
This study investigated sleep deprivation & adolescence. Later parent-set bedtimes and correspondingly shorter sleep duration appears to be related to the development of depression in adolescence, a cross-sectional analysis showed. In the sample 24% of adolescents were shown to experience...
This study assessed tryptophan & emotional processing. It explored whether tryptophan (TRP) induces cognitive changes opposite to the negative biases found in depression and characteristic of those induced by serotonergic antidepressants in healthy volunteers. Thirty eight healthy volunteers...
This paper investigated omega 3 & bipolar. In a 12-week, double-blind study individuals with bipolar depression received either 1 g of EPA a day, 2 g/day or placebo, alongside their existing medication. Effectiveness of this treatment was assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression...
