10 Seemingly Healthy Foods That Could Make You Fat

Sushi Rolls
If you’re ordering the sushi rolls because you assume it’s the healthier option, it may be time to look at the menu again. All wrapped in a healthy seaweed blanket is a heavy dose of spicy mayo, white rice and tempura-battered seafood or vegetables that could be turning your healthy meal into a calorie bomb. Add sodium-heavy soy sauce and let the water retention begin. Try opting for the raw fish or veggie rolls for a lighter meal.

Veggie Burgers
They may be lower in cholesterol than their meaty brothers, but the seemingly humble veggie burger is packed with a surprising amount of sodium. And once you load it with cheese and stick it in a big old bun, it comes pretty close to a traditional burger.

Carrot Muffins
The clever vegetable packaging must mean it’s better for you than it’s chocolate chip counterpart, right? You can dress it up with whatever floats your boat, but throwing in a ton of sugar, butter and oil still means it’s going to be heavy on the calories.

Salads
Crunching away on raw and naked vegetables definitely does your body good. It’s once you dress them up with goodies like croutons, cheese and heavy buttermilk dressing where things start to become dicey. Be wary of oil-based salad dressing, too; they're notorious for racking up the calorie count.

Dried Fruit
We've been told that grazing on a handful of dried fruit is way better than chips. Well, if you’re trying to avoid eating too much sugar, the answer is no. While a cup of fresh grapes packs a healthy punch and low 60 calories per cup, those dried raisins will clock in at a whopping 460 for the same cup.

Tofu
Okay, this one is a bit tricky. Plain tofu packs a wicked protein punch, but it’s how you eat it that can make it problematic. Most popular tofu dishes call for sodium-packed soy sauce, sugar or other calorie-heavy sauces to bring out the taste. Let’s not even get started on the deep fried variety.

Granola
Its reputation as the homely breakfast option — all plain and boring — makes one think that it’s what you should eat when trying to watch your weight. And while it’s often loaded with good-for-you ingredients like nuts, the really tasty stuff is tossed with quite a bit of oil and sugar to make it crisp.

Vegetable Chips
Nobody thinks they’re going to get skinny snacking on potato chips, but what you may not notice is that chips in any form — whether it be a sweet potato, a blue potato or even a turnip — is still deep-fried at the end of the day and therefore not any better for you (although just as delicious).

Smoothies
Sadly, the simple reality is that your green goddess smoothie can be among the most covert of sugar bombs. On the upside, drinking your vegetables is a great way to pack in fibre and get in your daily servings in one shot, just know knocking them back with abandon won’t do much for your six pack.

Vegetable Tempura
Vegetables are usually pretty reliable as the healthier option, but dredging a crisp, fresh vegetable in flour and frying it in a vat of oil means your once healthy snack is now full of calories and fat.

Healthy Energy Drinks: Is There Such a Thing?

Whether it’s before a long day at the office, a hard workout, or an all-night study session, many of us turn to energy drinks when we need a little boost. Energy drinks are a multi-billion dollar industry. If their popularity is any indication of their effectiveness, they appear to be working. But are these drinks doing us more harm than good?

Despite how popular energy drinks are, the term “healthy energy drink” is still an oxymoron. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 20,000 emergency room visits in the United States in 2011 involved energy drinks. More than half of those visits were due to energy drinks alone. The other cases involved people mixing alcohol or other stimulants with energy drinks. According to the Center for Science in Public Interest, energy drinks have been linked to 34 deaths since 2004. Most of these were from people taking 5-Hour Energy.

CAFFEINE

Caffeine

Most energy drinks pack a serious caffeine punch. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It gives you energy and makes you more alert. The average 8-ounce cup of coffee contains about 95–200 milligrams of caffeine, according to the Mayo Clinic. In comparison, a 2-ounce 5-Hour Energy shot contains about the same amount of caffeine (200–207 mg).

Caffeine is relatively safe in small doses, such as in a cup of coffee or tea. But it can be dangerous in large doses (over 400 mg), according to an info sheet published by the University of California, Davis. An overdose of caffeine can cause symptoms such as:

• irregular or rapid heartbeat
• trouble breathing
• diarrhea
• fever
• convulsions

Excessive caffeine consumption can cause health issues for:

• people unaware of a sensitivity to caffeine
• people who have issues with blood pressure or heart rate regulation
• pregnant women

CHILDREN

Children and teens

Energy drinks can be appealing to children and teens because they are available at local stores and are legal for all ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 percent of teens say they consume energy drinks, and 75 percent of school districts don’t have a policy regulating their sale on campus. In general, regulation of energy drinks in the United States is lax. However, there is a movement calling for stricter regulation and content labeling, as well as the addition of health warnings.

Children and teens are particularly vulnerable to energy drinks as their bodies generally aren’t used to caffeine. One study found that caffeine intoxication, or drinking too much caffeine, leads to caffeine addiction and potential withdrawal. The study concludes that energy drinks may be a gateway to other forms of drug dependence.

SWEETENERS AND STIMULANTS

Sneaky sweeteners and stimulants

Usually there are other stimulants besides caffeine in energy drinks. Additives such as guarana and ginseng are common. These can amplify the drink’s energy boost and also the adverse effects of caffeine.

Energy drinks often contain large amounts of sugar to aid their energy-boosting effects. A single serving of an energy drink can have more than 30 grams of sugar, according to scientists at UC Davis. Sugary drinks have been linked to obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. This study also shows that added sugar consumption increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

OTHER INGREDIENTS

Unusual ingredients

The UC Davis info sheet lists several ingredients that may not be familiar to you. Many of these ingredients are new to commercial products, so not much research has been done on them. Despite claims made by producers, their effects are unknown. Currently, there isn’t enough data to establish the safety of these ingredients:

• carnitine
• glucuronolactone
• inositol
• panax ginseng
• super citrimax
• taurine

Alcohol

In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of energy drinks that contain alcohol. It declared them to be unsafe. This study shows how mixing alcohol and energy drinks can lead to drinking too much alcohol. Energy drinks keep people awake longer. This can increase the amount of alcohol people drink. High alcohol consumption is linked to sexual assault, driving under the influence, and other risky behaviors.

ALTERNATIVES

Alternatives

It’s safe to have caffeine in moderation. But if a cup of joe a day doesn’t give you a big enough boost, try some of these alternatives:

• Drink water: Staying hydrated helps keep your body running, according to this study. Drink a glass of water when you wake up, with meals, and before, during, and after workouts.
• Eat protein and carbohydrates: According to the American Heart Association, they are great fuel for a workout. Carbohydrates provide your muscles with energy, while protein helps build them. Try chocolate milk, fruit, and a boiled egg, or a peanut butter and banana smoothie.
• Take vitamins: Naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, help your body produce energy. A vitamin or mineral deficiency may cause fatigue. If you feel like you always need an energy boost, talk to your doctor about having a nutritional assessment or adding a vitamin supplement to your diet. You can also add more vitamin- and mineral-rich foods to your diet, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and yogurt.
• Be active: When you exercise, your serotonin and endorphin levels increase shortly after, which helps you feel better. Also, those who exercise regularly often have more energy. 

OUTLOOK

Outlook

While energy drinks may seem like a quick fix for fatigue, the short- and long-term effects of drinking them outweigh the benefits. Energy drinks have been linked to obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular issues. A single energy drink can contain more sugar and caffeine than you should have in a day. Plus, many energy drinks have other ingredients that haven’t been tested well enough to know their effects on the body. There are many alternatives to energy drinks that offer a healthy energy boost and won’t let you down. 

34 Ways to Wake Up Feeling Refreshed and Ready to Go

Ah, bedtime. That glorious time of day when you drift into dreamland and forget your troubles. At least that’s how it’s supposed to happen.

For many people, the day-to-day rigor can keep your mind churning and your body tossing and turning until the alarm starts blaring in your ear the next morning. And why does that thing go off so soon after you fall asleep?

If a lack of restful sleep and worries about the day ahead lead you to hit the snooze button one time too many, you’re not alone. Here’s how you can kick the grumps to the curb and make the most of your morning routine.

 

1. Just say no to snoozing

Did you know there’s a word for hitting the snooze button over and over? Me neither. But it’s called drockling, and it’ll wreak havoc on your morning routine.

Drockling confuses your body’s internal clock so it’s hard to wake up refreshed. When you finally do roll out of bed, you’re more likely to be groggy and cranky. And is that really how you want to spend your morning? 

2. Leave your phone alone

As tempting as it may be, reaching for your phone as soon as you wake up can derail your whole day. Checking social media and email can both be massive time sucks, leaving you with less time for your morning routine and rushing to catch the bus.

If you do find yourself with extra time in the a.m., opt for something that can help keep you grounded, like light exercise, journaling, or meditation.

3. Shine some light on the matter

Ever struggle to get out of bed on a dark, rainy day? It’s because your body needs natural light to reset its internal clock. That means if you don’t turn on a light, you’re more likely to burrow further down into your covers and call it a day.

You’ll start your day faster if you turn on the lights or open the shades as soon as you wake up.

4. Make the bed

Let’s be real. It only takes a couple minutes to at least straighten up the covers, and hospital corners are optional.

Making the bed helps get you moving in the morning and gives you a sense of accomplishment. And think of how much calmer you’ll feel at bedtime when you climb into a nicely-made bed instead of a mass of tangled sheets and blankets.

5. Pump up the tunes

If you turn on your favorite tunes, finding your morning groove is inevitable. So unless you’ve got sleeping kids you don’t want to wake, go ahead and pump up the volume. A bonus? Music makes you want to dance, so you’ll burn some calories, too.

6. Diffuse a zesty scent

Consider buying an aromatherapy diffuser for your bedroom. Inhaling a stimulating essential oil can awaken your senses and get you energized.

Some invigorating scents to choose from include:

• peppermint
• spearmint
• orange
• lemon
• bergamot
• pink grapefruit
• clove
• patchouli

7. Pull your hair — no, really

If you simply can’t roll out of bed despite your best efforts, tug your hair. Gently pulling your hair not only gives you an eye-opening twinge; it also helps stimulate blood flow to your scalp. 

Of course, if you take this advice to heart, don’t go overboard. Pulling your hair may get you going, but if you do it too hard, it’s also likely to tick you off — at yourself.

8. Stretch

Stretching helps get blood flowing to your muscles, especially if your body is stiff because your partner is a bed-hog and you literally slept in the same position all night on one tiny area of the bed. Yeah, they know who they are.

Stretching may also help get you through your day by:

• increasing flexibility
• increasing range of motion
• increasing endurance
• decreasing risk of injury 

9. Get out of your jammies

If you stay in your jammies all day, you’ll miss out on how good it feels to don them at the end of a difficult day. We know everyone needs a pajama day now and then, but save it for a snow day when you’re stuck inside with a mug of cocoa and a roaring fire. 

10. Douse your face with cold water

Don’t go as far as the Ice Bucket Challenge, but a few splashes of icy water will snap you out of dreamland fast. An added benefit may be tighter pores, but that theory’s unproven.

11. Drink water before caffeine

Drinking a glass of water before your cup of coffee or tea can help rehydrate your body and rev your metabolism. If you don’t drink water until later, you’re more likely to become dehydrated.

Dehydration may cause confusion, infrequent urination, fatigue, and dizziness — symptoms you definitely don’t want to experience throughout your day.

12. Eat protein for breakfast

Proteins are the building blocks of every cell you have. It just makes more sense to power your body with a high-protein breakfast, such as a hard-boiled egg or a protein shake, instead of a sugary doughnut or muffin that will mess with your blood sugar levels and sap your energy. Need some inspiration? Check out these high-protein breakfast recipes.

13. Make your morning work for you

Who’s in control when you wake up — you, or your morning routine? Many days, it may seem like the latter, but you can change that. Make mornings work for you by eating right, avoiding your electronics unless there’s an emergency, and prepping clothes and meals ahead of time.

If you’re one of many in your home, don’t be a morning martyr. Enlist the entire family to work as a team to make the morning rush less stressful.

14. Be consistent with your routines

If your bedtime, morning, and weekend routines are all over the map, you’re blowing your chances of sleeping well and waking up refreshed.

To support your body’s natural sleep cycle, develop routines and stick with them. This means going to bed at the same time each night and waking up the same time each morning.

 

There are countless things you can do the night before to step up your morning game. The key is to be consistent so the steps you take become habit.

15. Pass on that afternoon coffee run

Caffeine is a stimulant that stays in your system for several hours. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, research has shown drinking caffeine six hours before bedtime reduces total sleep time by one hour.

Skipping that afternoon cup may mean the difference between getting a full eight hours of sleep and wishing for a nap around 3 p.m.

16. Avoid alcohol

A glass of wine may help you fall asleep when your nerves are frayed, but you don’t want to rely on it every night. Alcohol can disrupt your sleep cycle and prevent you from reaching REM, or deep sleep.

And have you ever had a hangover? Enough said.

17. Lay out your clothes for tomorrow

Taking 10 minutes or so to choose your clothes for the next day, iron them, and lay them out can save you loads of morning stress. If you have kids, teach them to do the same. It’s an easy hack guaranteed to make your daily routine easier.

18. Prep your morning mojo

Coffee. That dark, rich fuel… er, beverage that makes you human again. Why struggle half-awake through half-open eyes to find your coffee filters and coffee when you can prep your mojo the night before?

Better yet, buy a programmable coffee maker that’ll have your morning cup of aromatic bliss ready for you when you wake.

19. Get your breakfast ready

Millions of adults and children skip breakfast. This can be harmful, as eating breakfast helps:

• control blood sugar
• improve heart health
• boost brain power
• boost immunity
• improve skin

To make sure you and your family enjoy a healthy breakfast (no, last night’s brownies don’t count), do some prep work. If you have time for a sit-down meal, plan the menu and set the table the night before. If not, make a batch of grab-and-go egg muffins or homemade protein bars on Sunday to have on hand the entire week.

20. Use a sleep app

There really is an app for everything! Sleep apps track your sleeping habits to help you determine your optimal bedtime and what time you should wake up. There are also relaxation apps and white noise apps that can help you fall asleep. Wondering which app is right for you? Here are some options to get you started.

21. Keep your room cool

It’s difficult to snooze when you’re uncomfortably hot and sweating buckets. Unless you’re used to sleeping in hot temps, keep your bedroom cool at night. You’ll sleep better and have fewer grungy sheets to wash.

22. Keep the screens out of your bed

Although turning to your phone first thing in the morning can be disastrous, using it before bed may be worse. That’s because electronics expose you to blue light.

Blue light is thought to stimulate your brain and block it from producing melatonin, the hormone that tells your body it’s time for 40 winks. Try cutting your screen time off an hour or two before you plan to sleep.

23. Choose an alarm that’ll make you want to wake up

It may be nice to wake up to the sound of a gentle rainfall or crashing waves, but does it really make you want to get out of bed? Doubtful.

Choose an alarm that’s not shrill enough to make you chuck it across the room, but annoying enough to make you want to get as far away from it as possible.

24. Make sure your alarm is set — and far away from you

It should go without saying, but to wake up on time, make sure your alarm is set each night. Place it on a dresser on the opposite side of the room or even in an adjoining bathroom — wherever you can still hear it! You’re less likely to hit the snooze button and fall back to sleep if you have to get out of bed and walk across the room to turn it off.

25. Choose an alarm with a brain teaser

Take it one step further and make your alarm require you to perform a mental task for it to shut off. For example, the iPhone has an alarm shut-off function that requires you to solve a simple math problem. If math gives you an instant headache, use an app that requires you to snap a picture of something somewhere in your home before shutting off.

26. Have an evening routine

Humans are creatures of habit. Establishing an evening ritual helps signal your body it’s time for sleep. Consider drinking a cup of herbal tea — chamomile is a great choice — reading a book, or taking a relaxing bath before bedtime. Whatever your routine, don’t divert from it.

27. Play white noise

If you can’t stand the sound of silence, or you wake up at every little sound, white noise may be a great bedtime option for you. It helps keep the sound in the room consistent, and blocks out sudden noises that may wake you up.

You can purchase a white noise machine, keep a playlist running, or just keep a fan on throughout the night.

28. Don’t linger in bed if you can’t sleep

If you can’t sleep, don’t lie in bed counting sheep. Despite the hype, it seldom works.

Get out of bed and do a busy task such as folding laundry or sorting mail. It’s OK to read a book or magazine, but not on your tablet. Leave your electronics off. When you start to feel sleepy, go back to bed.

 

You can take all the above steps and still not sleep a wink if your bed is a mess of tangled covers and grimy bedding. Your bed is your oasis. Here’s how to create a comforting space that promotes relaxation and sleep.

29. Get a better pillow

An uncomfortable pillow is a prescription for a lousy night’s sleep. Find a pillow that keeps your head in a neutral position. Consider investing in a so-called smart pillow, which conforms to your neck and head. You should also wash your pillowcases regularly to keep things smelling fresh.

30. Choose the right mattress

Your college days of crashing on whatever surface is closest are over. It’s time to step up your game and invest in a mattress that best suits your sleep needs.

According to the Better Sleep Foundation, you should evaluate your mattress every seven years. If it’s not literally supporting you, replace it. There are many mattress options out there, from innerspring to memory foam. If you think it’s time to upgrade, visit a mattress store and test drive several types to find the best fit for you.

31. Assess your blanket situation

It seems like a cruel twist of fate that in many relationships one person loves piling on the blankets while the other is content to sleep with just a sheet. Blanket tension must be one of the main reasons couples end up sleeping in separate rooms. Too few or too many blankets can leave you either shivering or sweltering.

If you’re not sleeping well, review your blanket situation, and adjust accordingly. If you can’t get your significant other to compromise, it may be time to purchase a sofa bed…

32. Adjust the lighting

The right lightbulb is important if you’re struggling to sleep. Both fluorescent and LED bulbs give off melatonin-obstructing blue light. The National Sleep Foundation recommends using red, pink, or incandescent bulbs in your bedroom lamps to promote restful sleep.

33. Keep the walls a neutral color

For the record, neutral isn’t red, hot pink, or puce. Staring at neon walls is a surefire way to stay awake. If you’re dealing with a fiery shade left over from an earlier renovation, consider a room redo.

Switching to a soothing, neutral color such as light blue, grey, white, or beige may make all the difference and transform your sleep.

34. Ban Fido from your bed

Please don’t send hate mail! I’m an animal lover, and understand how comforting it is to snuggle in bed with a beloved pet.

But I’m also a realist, and unless your pet understands the concept of personal space, you’re more likely to get a better night’s sleep if they sleep in their own bed on the floor. This way you can keep them close without having to deal with constant shuffling throughout the night.

Can You Lower Your ‘Bad’ Cholesterol Too Much?

When it comes to “bad” cholesterol, the mantra might be: “How low can you go?”

In a new paper, researchers looked at whether using a drug combo to lower LDL cholesterol to “very-low” or “ultra-low” levels would provide even greater benefits than more modest decreases in LDL.

The manufacturer-funded study, called FOURIER, enrolled more than 27,000 people who were already taking statin drugs to treat their high LDL cholesterol.

Roughly half of these people received injections of evolocumab, a drug made by Amgen and sold under the brand name Repatha. The other half received a placebo, or nonactive, injections.

Evolocumab is a PCSK9 inhibitor, which works by simulating a favorable genetic variation that leads to large reductions of LDL cholesterol.

In an earlier paper for the study, researchers reported that people taking both statins and evolocumabsaw their LDL cholesterol level drop dramatically.

At the start of the study, their LDL level was on average 90 mg/dL. This fell to 30 mg/dL after 48 weeks of drug therapy.

Researchers also found that evolocumab reduced the risk of cardiovascular events — such as heart attacks and stroke — by about 15 percent.

So, for about every 67 people treated with the drug, one person avoided one of these events.

But there was no reduction in the risk of death — at least not over the two years that participants in the study were followed.

As the sponsor of the study, Amgen collected and interpreted the study data and helped edit the papers that were published in medical journals.

How low can LDL go?

Research done on cholesterol-lowering statins has shown that the risk of cardiovascular disease decreases at lower levels of LDL cholesterol.

But doctors haven’t known how low cholesterol can go and still reduce risk of heart problems and stroke.

One reason for this is that previous drug studies either didn’t look specifically at outcomes for people whose LDL cholesterol dropped to “very low” or “ultra-low” levels.

Or if they did, there were not enough of those patients to make the statistical analysis useful.

So researchers from the FOURIER study reanalyzed the data with an eye toward these lower cholesterol levels. The results were published Aug. 28 in The Lancet.

The new analysis suggests that the benefits of lowering your LDL cholesterol continue to increase the lower you go, even at ultra-low levels, at least in terms of reducing your risk of developing heart problems or stroke.

There was also no increase in safety concerns for this group, compared with people whose LDL didn’t drop as much.

However, there are some limitations.

Since researchers followed people for only two years, they don’t know if the ultra-low LDL levels translate to a lower risk of dying over the long run.

Some health problems also only show up after taking a drug for years.

And lower LDL cholesterol levels don’t always mean an overall health benefit.

In another unrelated study, the drug torcetrapib reduced LDL cholesterol by 25 percent. But the risk of cardiovascular events and death from any cause increased.

In spite of the dramatic drop in LDL levels, the earlier FOURIER paper and the new analysis leave a big question unanswered: Are the benefits of evolocumab big enough to justify its $14,000 per year price tag?

Health insurers may not be willing to fork out that kind of money — on top of the price of statin therapy — for a treatment that so far hasn’t been found to reduce the risk of death.

Reducing heart disease naturally

One thing that this study does show is that cardiovascular disease is complicated.

The study also brings to light another fact about cholesterol — drugs are not the only way to lower your LDL levels.

Most doctors who prescribe statins for high cholesterol will also recommend that patients exercise more and eat healthier foods.

But more hospitals and doctors’ offices are starting to promote lifestyle changes as a way for patients to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease — and LDL levels — using diet and exercise alone.

Often this approach involves a whole food or plant-based diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, legumes like chickpeas and lentils, healthy fats like those in olive oil and avocado, and dairy alternatives.

For many, this diet will be a challenge to switch to. But there is a growing body of research on its benefits.

In one study, people saw their LDL cholesterol level drop by up to 20 mg/dL after one year on a cholesterol-lowering diet.

The catch, though, is that if you go this route, you still have to make smart choices about what to eat.

A study earlier this year in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that people who ate a plant-based diet had a lower risk of coronary heart disease.

However, the opposite effect was seen in people who ate a greater amount of less healthy plant foods, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, juices, refined grains, potatoes, and sweets.

So if you’re looking to lower your LDL cholesterol and improve your heart health, talk to your doctor about how diet and exercise can play key roles.

And then think about how low you can go… in eating less healthy foods

The Effects of Depression in Your Body

Depression is one of the most common mental health illnesses in the United States, affecting about 26 percent of adults. Depression is technically a mental disorder, but it also affects your physical health and well-being. Learn more about some of the most common symptoms of depression, as well as how depression can affect your entire body, especially if left untreated.

Feeling sad or anxious at times is a normal part of life, but if these feelings last more than two weeks they could be symptoms of depression. It’s estimated that each year 17 million American adults will experience depression. However, clinical depression, especially left untreated, can interrupt your day-to-day life and cause a ripple effect of additional symptoms.

 Depression affects how you feel and can also cause changes in your body. Major depression (a more advanced form of depression) is considered a serious medical condition that may have a dramatic effect on your quality of life.

Central nervous system

Depression can cause a lot of symptoms within the central nervous system, many of which are easy to dismiss or ignore.Older adults may also have difficulty identifying cognitive changes because it’s easy to dismiss the signs of depression as related to “getting older.” According to the American Psychological Association, older adults with depression have more difficulties with memory loss and reaction time during everyday activities compared with younger adults with depression.Symptoms of depression include overwhelming sadness, grief, and a sense of guilt. It may be described as a feeling of emptiness or hopelessness. Some people may find it difficult to put these feelings into words. It may also be difficult for them to understand as symptoms can manifest and cause physical reactions. Frequent episodes of crying may be a symptom of depression, although not everyone who is depressed cries.You may also feel tired all the time or have trouble sleeping at night. Other symptoms include: irritability, anger, and loss of interest in things that used to bring pleasure, including sex. Depression can cause headaches, chronic body aches, and pain that may not respond to medication. It’s also sometimes an effect of certain neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.People with depression may have trouble maintaining a normal work schedule or fulfilling social obligations. This could be due to symptoms such as an inability to concentrate, memory problems, and difficulty making decisions.Some people who are depressed may turn to alcohol or drugs, which may increase instances of reckless or abusive behavior. Someone with depression may consciously avoid talking about it or try to mask the problem. People experiencing depression may also find themselves preoccupied with thoughts of death or hurting themselves.While there’s a 25 times greater risk of suicide, even during the recovery process, the American Association of Suicidology reports that treatment for depression is effective 60 to 80 percent of time.

Symptoms in children

Depression may be more difficult to detect in children who can’t articulate their symptoms. Behaviors you may want to look out for include persistent clinginess, worry, and unwillingness to attend school without improvement over time. Children may also be excessively irritable and negative.

Digestive system

While depression is often thought of as a mental illness, it also plays a heavy role in appetite and nutrition. Some people cope by overeating or bingeing. This can lead to weight gain and obesity-related illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes.You may even lose your appetite entirely, or fail to eat the right amount of nutritious food. A sudden loss of interest in eating in older adults can lead to a condition called geriatric anorexia.Eating problems can lead to symptoms that include:

• stomachaches
• cramps
• constipation
• malnutrition

These symptoms may not improve with medication if a person doesn’t eat the correct diet. Sweets and foods high in carbohydrates may provide immediate relief, but the effects are often temporary.It’s important to maintain a healthy diet when experiencing depression. Nutrients are essential to making sure the body’s neurotransmitters are firing right. According to a study, the most common vitamin and nutritional deficiencies are.

• omega-3 fatty acids
• B vitamins
• minerals
• amino acids

Cardiovascular and immune systems

Depression and stress are closely related. Stress hormones speed heart rate and make blood vessels tighten, putting your body in a prolonged state of emergency. Over time, this can lead to heart disease.Recurrence of cardiovascular problems is linked more closely to depression than to other conditions like:

• smoking
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol

Untreated, depression raises the risk of dying after a heart attack. Heart disease is also a trigger for depression. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that about 15 percent of people with heart disease also develop major depression.Depression and stress may have a negative impact on the immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections and diseases. One review looked at studies and found that there seemed to be a relationship between inflammation and depression, although the exact connection is unclear. Inflammation is linked to many illnesses, such as stress. Some anti-inflammatory agents have shown to benefit some people with depression.