Omega 3, intestinul si depresia

OMEGA 3, intestinul si depresia

Atitudinea si dispozitia sufleteasca nu se datoreaza numai creierului tau.

Cercetatorii au descoperit ca intestinul nostru functioneaza ca un al-II-lea creier, influentand sistemul nervos si comportamentul.

Potrivit lui Michael Gershon – profesor de patologie si biologie celulara la Columbia University,intestinul lucreaza independent de creier, cu cele 100 de milioane de neuroni formand sistemul nervos enteric. Peste 30 de neurotransmitatori sant produsi aici si sant identici cu cei din creier. Incredibil, dar 90% din serotonina este localizata in intestin ! Numit si ‘hormonul fericirii’, serotonina regleaza somnul , apetitul si dispozitia sufleteasca.                       

Rezultatele unui studiu belgian confirma spusele lui Gershon. Unui grup de voluntari li s-a scurt-circuitat placerea de a manca prin introducerea unei sonde naso-gastrice ; unui grup i s-a administrat solutie salina iar celuilalt o solutie ce continea acizi grasi, in acelasi timp, fiecare persoana a fost expusa unor imagini si unei muzici triste sau neutre.

Emotiile relatate de voluntari ca si rezultatele MRI cerebrale au aratat ca cei care au primit acizi grasi au manifestat sentimente de tristete mult reduse fata de restul grupului.

Dar nu orice fel de acizi grasi au acest efect. Grasimile saturate si cele ‘trans’(unt, smantana,carne rosie,margarina,produse fast-food) pot provoca manifestari agresive sau depresive. Acizii grasi de tip Omega3 – somon, nuci, seminte de in, seminte de chia (sau suplimente care le contin)  - favorizeaza buna-dispozitie prin stimularea secretiei de serotonina.

Attitude and outlook may not all be in the head. Researchers have found that the gut can function like a second brain -- influencing the nervous system and behavior. According to Michael Gershon, professor of pathology and cell biology at Columbia University, "The gut can work independently of any control by the brain in your head - it's functioning as a second brain." Through a network of 100 million neurons in the gut called the enteric nervous system (ENS), over 30 neurotransmitters are produced that are identical to those found in the brain -- one of which is serotonin. Incredibly, 90 % of all serotonin is located in the gut. Remember, serotonin is an important feel-good hormone that regulates sleep, appetite and mood.

The results of a Belgian study confirm Gershon's theory. Researchers bypassed the pleasures of eating by inserting a nasogastric tube into the stomach of healthy volunteers. They were then given either a saline or fatty acid solution through the tube. At the same time, each person was exposed to melancholic or neutral music along with sad or innocuous images. Feelings reported by participants as well as MRI brain scans showed that those who received the fatty acid infusion had about half the sadness compared with the saline group.
But not any fat will do -- specific fatty acids are the key to unlocking a bright and stable frame of mind..
Feeding joyful emotions

For maximum emotional benefit, certain types of fat are more effective than others. Saturated fat from animal products like dairy, red meat and pork tend to cloud the brain, provoke aggression and trigger depression. Trans fats, which are found in foods like margarine, shortening and many fast foods, are another mood killer. A happier, more positive choice would be omega-3 rich foods like salmon and other cold water fish, walnuts, flax and chia seeds. These fatty acids 'feed' the gut and emotions in a constructive way -- helping to nourish a sunny and balanced disposition by directly supporting the enteric nervous system's production of serotonin.

Sources for this article include:

"Positive Mental and Emotional Effects of Fatty Foods" Staff, Utne Reader, March/April 2012. Retrieved on September 3, 2012 from: http://www.utne.com/mind-body/effects-of-fatty-foods-zm0z12mazsie.aspx

"Your Backup Brain" Dan Hurley, Psychology Today, November/December 2011. Retrieved on September 3, 2012 from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201110/your-backup-brain