WEEKLY TIP: Beat Depression by Reducing Inflammation

Roughly 6 million Americans over age 65 suffer from what is medically termed "major" depression. Another 5 million feel symptoms of depression but fall short of the full-blown illness. And depression can be deadly. Major depression in the elderly often heralds the onset of a catastrophic disease or death. One study found that 80 percent of seniors with severe depression associated with mental decline died within three to six years of its onset.

Getting depression under control can lower your risk of many ailments, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. We've discussed how chronic inflammation is at the root of many diseases, but did you know that inflammation also causes depression?

Research has shown that inflammation can trigger major depression, and evidence is mounting that it causes depression that appears suddenly and without warning. (For more information, read my report "Overcome Depression and Its Deadly Effects.")

Numerous studies have shown the following:

• Depression is a major indicator of future risk of heart attacks and especially strokes.

• Heart attack victims who are depressed are three times more likely to die within a short period of the attack.

• Heart attack victims have substantially higher levels of inflammation as calculated by measuring levels of C-reactive protein and immune cytokines.

• Inflammation measures are better guides for predicting both heart attack and stroke risk than cholesterol levels — even LDL-cholesterol.

So, a major step toward conquering depression and lowering your risk of heart attack and many other diseases at the same time is to get a handle on inflammation. (For a detailed discussion on inflammation and its role in many diseases, see my newsletter "Inflammation: The Real Cause of Most Diseases.")

One of the primary causes of inflammation is a poor diet high in omega-6 (N-6) fats, because it suppresses natural immunity while dramatically increasing inflammation. Americans eat 50 times the amount of these harmful fats as needed for health, mainly at the recommendation of the government. The report "Omega 3: Nature’s Miracle Panacea" explains how omega-3 oils help prevent depression and lower your risk of heart disease.

Is your diet rich in inflammation boosters or inflammation busters?

Inflammation boosters:

• N-6 or omega-6 fats, including corn, safflower, sunflower, canola, peanut, and

soybean oils.

• Meats, which are high in iron and glutamate.

• Soybean products.

• Trans-fats.

Inflammation busters:

• Omega-3 oils (N-3 oils), found in fish and flaxseed.

• Some white meats like chicken and turkey.

• A diet rich in vegetables with some fruits.

You can also use the following supplements to help reduce inflammation:

• Curcumin.

• Quercetin.

• Hesperidin.

• Frulic acid.

• Silymarin.

• Magnesium.

• Omega-3 (low EPA and high DHA).

• Vitamin C.

• N-acetyl–L cysteine (NAC).

• Natural vitamin E (with high gammatocopherol).

Learn even more about the benefits of supplements by reading my special report "Key Vitamins That Save Your Heart, Prevent Cancer and Keep You Living Long."