NEWS FLASH

newsflash BRIGHTEN YOUR MOOD WITH CURCUMIN

Winter can be depressing enough, but add in a pandemic and limited interactions with friends and family, and you have a recipe for the blues. If you need a mental pick-me-up, try curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric.

Studies show that depression is linked with brain inflammation. In fact, some research shows that brain inflammation is significantly linked with higher risk of suicide. So a high-potency anti-inflammatory is a crucial weapon in the fight against depression.

Curcumin has been shown in study after study to effectively reduce inflammation—with no side effects. Curcumin can reduce inflammation in the brain and also the gut, a critical component of mood and overall mental health. Not only does curcumin reduce inflammation, it elevates serotonin and dopamine, brain chemicals that create a sense of well-being.

Better Your Brain with GABA

The amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) can help enhance memory and spatial cognitive function in healthy adults over age 40, according to two studies published in Japanese Pharmacology & Therapeutics. At 12 weeks, 100 mg of GABA (as PharmaGABA) led to significant improvements in several areas of cognitive performance. Subjects who took 200 mg daily experienced even more benefits.

THINK ACUPUNCTURE BEFORE GOING UNDER

Veterans who have acupuncture before surgery report less pain and need fewer opioids to manage their post-surgical discomfort, according to a randomized, controlled study presented at the Anesthesiology 2020 annual meeting. Vets who received acupuncture also reported that they were more satisfied with their pain control than those who did not.

VITAMIN K2 MAY DECREASE COVID-19 SEVERITY

You’ve probably already heard of the link between vitamin D and risk of Covid-19 infection. Even Dr. Anthony Fauci recommends maintaining adequate levels, noting that “there is good evidence that if you have a low vitamin D level, that you have more of a propensity to get infected when there are infections around.”

Now, scientists in New Zealand have found a link between vitamin K2 and Covid mortality. Their paper, published in Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, noted a “profound increase” in inactive matrix Gla-protein (MGP) levels in Covid-19 patients—which indicates low levels of the vitamin K2 menaquinone-7 (MK-7)—and an associated increased risk of mortality.

“MK-7 deficiency can be a risk factor for increasing the severity of the Covid-19 disease, and infected patients with comorbid conditions tend to develop acute manifestations,” the researchers wrote. Their paper supported an earlier study published in April that also demonstrated a link between vitamin K2 deficiency and disease severity in patients with Covid-19.