If you thought bad food affected only your body, then think again. Because eating processed foods,junk foods, fried or sugary stuff and refined foods could affect your mental health apart from causing havoc to one’s physical body. Well it is true. The rising rates of depression could be partly blamed on the high consumption of processed foods in the present era. This should be of concern because of how much children these days turn to such foods from biscuits to fast foods, from fried snacks to soft drinks.

Whole foods:

Researchers at University College, London, found a 58% risk for depression in people who mainly ate processed foods as compared with people who ate whole foods like lots of fruits, vegetables, fish and unprocessed whole grains, legumes and unhomogenised milk. Whole foods are those that are not processed or refined. Whole foods also do not have additives like preservatives or salt, sugar or fat added to it. Much like how our ancestors ate their foods – fresh and wholesome.

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A particular style of thinking that makes people vulnerable to depression can actually “rub off” on others, increasing their symptoms of depression six months later, a study has found.

Studies had shown that people, who respond negatively to stressful life events, interpreting the events as the result of factors they can`t change and as a reflection of their own deficiency, are more vulnerable to depression.

This “cognitive vulnerability” is such a potent risk factor for depression that it can be used to predict which individuals are likely to experience a depressive episode in the future, even if they`ve never had a depressive episode before.

Individual differences in this cognitive vulnerability seem to solidify in early adolescence and remain stable throughout adulthood, but psychological scientists Gerald Haeffel and Jennifer Hames of the University of Notre Dame predicted that it might still be malleable under certain circumstances.

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Did you know that a new research indicates that sitting for long hours may lead to early death? Sitting a lot does not mean you will die early but it definitely increases the risk.

A research conducted by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge has reported that “sitting is a dangerous factor for early death” and in fact on par with smoking and being obese!

We’ve all been told time and again that sitting for long hours comes with several health risks. You may develop serious health problems such as increased risk of heart disease and diabetes and not just stiffness and muscle fatigue.

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Dr.Liza Mishra is a member of Indian medical association, Bombay psychiatric society, Santacruz medical association and Behavioural science network.

She has been trained in hypnotherapy, neuro linguistic programming, jungian dream analysis and narrative therapy. Her areas of work interest include integrated forms of psychotherapy, cognitive behaviour therapy for depression and anxiety for all age groups and specialized in children and adolescent issues for behavioural issues.

Dr.Liza Mishra answered Sify readers’ queries related to the above in an exclusive chat. Read the transcript below.

How does hypnotherapy help in depression

Hypnotherapy is not very effective for depression. Cognitive therapy is very effective for depression. I use Hypnotherapy for psychosomatic disorders and anxiety.

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So you’ve heard all about aromatherapy, and you’re keen on trying it. Learn more about the select benefits and function of each essential oil in aromatherapy.

Lavender

Lavender, one of the most commonly used oils in most aromatherapy sessions, is widely known for its calming and soothing action on the nervous system. A very popular essential oil for those suffering from stress, depression, anxiety, anger, mental disorders and sleep disorders including narcolepsy, sleep apnea and insomnia, lavender oil is truly an all-rounder.

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Just as talking about being fat points to body dissatisfaction, talking about being old would imply one’s negative self-image, new research has shown.

Body dissatisfaction is known to be correlated with, and predictive of, physical and mental health problems including binge eating, emotional eating, stress, low self-esteem, depression, and use of unhealthy weight control behaviours.

In order to see if the impact of ”fat talk” and other aspects of body image such as ageing, ”old talk”, was the same throughout women”s lives, researchers from Trinity University and University of the West of England surveyed almost 1000 women, whose ages ranged from 18 to 87.

The results showed that both ”fat talk” and ”old talk” occurred throughout women”s lives, but in general women talked less about age and getting older than they did about their concerns with weight. ”Fat talk” appeared to be a younger woman”s topic and became less frequent with age, while ”old talk” increased.

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People know the importance of keeping healthy and the benefits of exercise, healthy diet, and active lifestyle.

But Professor Barbara Sahakian, best known for her expertise on cognitive enhancers, has asked people to prioritise mental health in the same way as physical health.

“As a society, we take our mental health for granted. But just like our bodies, it is important to keep our brains fit,” said Prof Sahakian.

In any given year, one in every four adults suffers from a mental disorder. As a result, in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability, with depression and anxiety accounting for a significant percentage of the disorders.

“Just as joggers check their pulse rate, we should encourage individuals to regularly keep an eye on the state of their mental health. Often people wait too long to seek help, making their condition more difficult to treat. We need to educate the public about what to look for and make them aware of the importance of early detection and intervention,” added Sahakian.

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Brown University scientists have shed light on why does training in mindfulness meditation help patients manage chronic pain and depression.

In a newly published neurophysiological review, the scientists have proposed that mindfulness practitioners gain enhanced control over sensory cortical alpha rhythms that help regulate how the brain processes and filters sensations, including pain, and memories such as depressive cognitions.

The proposal, based on published experimental results and a validated computer simulation of neural networks, derives its mechanistic framework from the intimate connection in mindfulness between mind and body, since standardized mindfulness meditation training begins with a highly localized focus on body and breath sensations.

This repeated localized sensory focus, the scientists said, enhances control over localized alpha rhythms in the primary somatosensory cortex where sensations from different body are “mapped” by the brain.

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Strong partnerships can help us avoid illness, adopt healthier habits, and even live longer, while on the other hand, troubled relationships tend to breed stress and weaken immunity, a study has found.

“So many factors affect our health, whether it’s the behaviors we exhibit toward each other or the habits that we pass on to each other,” Foc News quoted psychologist Maryann Troiani, co-author of Spontaneous Optimism as saying.

So whether you’re dating casually, shacking up, or already married, keep in mind the key ways your romantic bond may influence your mind and body.

Try watching your weight, as it’s a common belief that couples “let themselves go” after pairing off, and there may be something to it.

According to a 2012 review, people tend to gain weight as they settle into marriage and lose weight when a marriage ends.

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A person’s profile on Facebook may reveal signs of mental illness that might not necessarily emerge in a session with a psychiatrist, a new study has suggested.

According to study researcher Elizabeth Martin, a psychology doctoral student at the University of Missouri, social media activity when used as a tool in psychological diagnosis can remove some of the problems associated with patients’ self-reporting, the CBS News reported.

Martin’s team recruited more than 200 college students and had them fill out questionnaires to evaluate their levels of extroversion, paranoia, enjoyment of social interactions, and endorsement of strange beliefs.

The students also were asked to log onto Facebook. They were told they would have the option to black-out parts of their profile before some of it was printed out for the researchers to examine.

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