The Winter Blues

In our culture, anxiety is rampant, and there's a fair slice of depression too. January is especially a time when people prone to anxiety and depression struggle. The lack of sunshine in the northern hemisphere contributes to the feeling of discomfort.

If you are challenged by anxiety or depression, there are practical steps you can take to help yourself and in some cases you may experience a dramatic improvement.

Much research indicates that omega 3 oils are a powerful antidote. Cod liver oil, and especially krill oil, are particularly good sources. They also provide vitamin D, which our bodies can't manufacture without exposure to adequate sunshine. And, with modern production methods, they don't taste fishy. They are also available in capsule form for those who wish to avoid the taste or texture altogether.

Another way of easing distress is to increase the ratio of alkalinity to acidity in your body. The majority of foods eaten in Western society are acid-forming. But the body prefers a slightly alkaline state. When there is a severe imbalance, anxiety is a common response.

In his book Conscious Health, Ron Garner shows how to increase your level of alkalinity.

One thing you can do is begin taking raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar and unprocessed sea salt. Many salts labeled sea salt are processed, but a salt such as Celtic salt is superb. It can be purchased from some health foods stores or online (e.g. www.celticseasalt.com). Conscious Health explains how this will benefit you.

Another key is to increase your intake of vegetables, most of which are alkalinizing. Juicing celery, cucumber, and other greens can help accomplish this.

It's also important to become aware of the impact of estrogen mimics in your diet. Fatigue, depression, irritability, and mood swings are common reactions to phytoestrogens, along with many other symptoms. Conscious Health tells you how to avoid these damaging chemicals. You'll be surprised how common they have become on our dinner tables.

An overgrowth of yeast (candida) in the body is also not helpful. It can contribute to mental and emotional problems. Why yeast increases, and what to do about it, are addressed in Conscious Health.

Says Ron Garner, the only way out of the problem is through it. When it comes to anxiety and depression, you can mask them with drugs, but you cannot eliminate them overnight.

While there is no instant fix, you can do much to help yourself in quite a short space of time. Conscious Health details how you can put your body into a healing crisis, and then build on a firm foundation by changing your approach to your health. As you do this you will realize that health is not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice when you understand what your body requires in order to produce real and lasting health.