Let’s face it. Just about ALL of us are feeling a little down right now.
Summer has arrived, and we can’t do many of our favorite warm-weather activities. No summer movies. No traveling. Big family BBQs are out too. There aren’t even any new sports to watch on TV.
It’s only natural to be a little blue right now.
Even if you haven’t ever battled depression before, you might be for the first time in your life. And if you were depressed before the pandemic, it could be even worse now.
But new research reveals a surprisingly easy way that any one of us could help beat our battle with the blues without more meds.
It turns out safe and natural probiotics… the friendly bacteria found in yogurt and supplements… could help lift your mood and ease feelings of depression.
The hidden epidemic of senior depression
I’ll have more on those probiotics in a moment. But first let’s take a closer look at the depression crisis gripping America.
Close to 6.5 million American seniors are quietly struggling with depression right now. That works out to around one in five seniors battling the blues at any given time. So if that’s you, rest assured you are in good company.
But most of us were raised to believe that depression is something you don’t talk about. And many seniors also believe feeling down is just a normal part of getting older. So they never seek help.
But it’s NOT. The truth is depression isn’t “normal” at any age. And left untreated, it can become more than just a MENTAL health crisis. Because the fact is depression isn’t JUST a mental condition.
It can trigger other physical problems throughout your body. One of the most common being a rise in chronic, systematic inflammation.
And like a set of sickness dominos that can cause many chronic diseases, seniors often battle such as heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline to head downhill fast. Heck, depression can even increase your risk of early death.
That’s what makes this new research so critical. Because it reveals a simple action that ANYONE can take to help ease depression and start to reverse all those health consequences that come with it.
Pick probiotics for a drug-free mood boost
The answer lies in those probiotics I mentioned earlier.
They’re the healthy bacteria that live inside your gut. And the new analysis of seven small clinical trials finds that supplements of these “good germs” can help lift the mood in people suffering from depression.
Different studies have tested different types of probiotic bacteria, making it a bit tough to nail down just one perfect mood-boosting bug. But that’s not a bad thing since it gives us options.
Three bacteria strains kept coming up the most often…
- acidophilus
- casaei
- bifidum
All three of these probiotics are easy to get anywhere they sell nutritional products. In fact, you will often find them bundled together in a single supplement, along with other beneficial strains of bacteria.
One study in the analysis also included a “prebiotic.” These are the nutrients your good belly bugs love to munch on, helping them survive and thrive. So it’s always a good idea to stock up on prebiotics when taking probiotics.
But no special pills are needed. Garlic, onions, leeks, or fruits such as apples, bananas, and pears are all great prebiotics.
I have to warn you, however. You might need to exercise a little patience for probiotics to fully work. The study finds it can take two to three months for the mood-boosting benefits of these supplements to kick in.
Now I know that might sound like a long time. But keep in mind antidepressant drugs can take about 6-8 weeks (or longer) to take effect. So this all-natural, drug-free solution is in the same ballpark.
More importantly, probiotics don’t come with the serious side effects that you can end up battling with prescription mood meds. Psychiatric drugs can cause personality changes, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and more.
For a little extra help, consider other natural depression fighters such as curcumin and 5-htp.
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