Getting angry or frustrated often, or feeling sad or worried, could be taking a toll on your body. We already know that anxiety and depression can cause physical problems. Chronically high levels of the stress hormone cortisol can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Now, there’s evidence that stress can have more far-reaching effects on your body than you might have imagined.
Negative moods cause inflammation, and positive moods are connected with lower levels of inflammation.
This may sound pretty basic. A chronic state of inflammation in the body is directly associated with:
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Osteoporosis
- Infections
Being depressed is just as bad as smoking.People living with high levels of anxiety and depression are more likely to:
- Develop a heart condition (65% more likely)
- Have a stroke (64% more likely)
- Develop hypertension (50% more likely)
- Have arthritis (87% more likely)
But there are ways to feel better naturally.
Your brain produces “natural opioids” that help elevate your mood. Exercise and other lifestyle changes will put those mood-altering chemicals to work for you.
Exercise. Even though you’re exhausted after a workout, you also feel good due to the release of those natural endorphins. Both aerobic and strength training on a regular basis will result in a higher everyday feel-good effect.
Melatonin. You can take melatonin supplements or eat more melatonin-boosting foods — bananas, tomatoes, oats, sweet corn, orange and pineapple.
Learn. Opioids are stimulated through electrical activity, and one way to fire up your brain’s natural electrical current, is to learn. Take a course, read a book, learn a new skill or hobby, and you’ll not only feel great about your newly acquired knowledge, but you’ll always be on a natural high as well.
Getting enough quality sleep protects your brain from those “down” moods and makes you more resilient in response to difficult situations. If you’re not getting adequate sleep (7.5 to 8 hours each night), your natural cycle can be interrupted and result in changes to the release of hormones and neurotransmitters and their subsequent interactions with opioids.
Check to see if any medications you are taking may have mood changes as a possible side effect, and talk with your doctor about changes in dosage or alternatives.
Yoga and meditation counteract depression when practiced consistently.
A lack of few crucial vitamins and minerals could also be the cause like vitamin B12, vitamin D , Folic acid, magnesium, selenium, iodine etc.
