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One thing that's hard about being single is the lack of touch. Why does this matter? Because it affects your serotonin levels, which affects your immune system and therefore your health.
I recommend massages for single people (and everyone else). In fact at once in the winter months, I take a cruise to the Caribbean to lap up the sun (with my Arbonne sunscreen on, of course) and also use the spa for massages and facials.
I did some research on serotonin because we're now approaching what one researcher in the UK found to be "the most depressing day of the year". It's in mid-January, halfway between Christmas and Valentine's Day, and also, in the Northern Hemisphere the peak of the well-documented SAD - - Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Many people feel a letdown after Christmas / New Year's probably brought on by emotional things plus a lack of sunlight. This is attributed to reduced serotonin.
Serotonin is a "phenolic amine neurotransmitter C10H12N2O that is a powerful vasoconstrictor and is found especially in the brain, blood serum, and gastric mucosa of mammals." (www.m-w.com) Think of this as ou consider the difference between reptiles and mammals.
We tend to think of feeling angry as being caused by rude drivers, people we don't like, or 100 degree temperatures, and feeling good as being caused by kind people, successful projects, or ice cream cones.
When we're working on our emotional intelligence we work on our self-talk and attributional style (optimism), our communication skills, and empathy, but it's good to remember that we also live in a body and our body is made up of chemicals.
It is believed that our feelings are regulated by neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Serotonin is most often called the "feel good" neurotransmitter. Here are some things to know about this important mood regulator.
1. Restoring levels of serotonin in the body relieves symptoms of depression and anxiety.
2. Vitamin B6 and magnesium can elevate serotonin. Source: Dr. Allan D. Lieberman, M.D., FAAEM
3. Serotonin receptors decrease significantly with age - up to 55%. Source: Research reported by Carolyn Meltzer, M.D., Assistant Professor of Radiology and Psychiatry, U. of Pittsburgh.
4. Foods high in serotonin are bananas, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, tomatoes, plums, avocados, pineapples, eggplant and walnuts. Source: Roger L. Gould, M.D., U.C.L.A.
5. Anti-depressants work with the serotonin you produce; they don't produce it. Your body produces serotonin through L-tryptophan.
L-Tryptophan is present in pork, duck and turkey -- maybe this is one reason we love Thanksgiving so much! And isn't it wonderful how popular pork loin has become!
6. Research indicates that low levels of serotonin in the brain can lead to underlying inability to handle powerful feelings which can result in impulsive acts, aggressive behaviors, poor judgment, and self-destructive tendencies.
According to the Society for Neuroscience, in experiments, monkeys with less serotonin are the ones who take daring jumps from the trees and injure themselves. Rats low in serontonin do risky things in experiments, and also accept small mediate rewards instead of waiting for a bigger prize.
7. Serotonin can also be enhanced by talk therapy and by aerobic exercise such as jogging or dance. Source: Harvard psychiatrist Joseph Glenmullen, author of "Prozac Backlash." (www.discover.com)
8. Touch increases serotonin during massage and decreases pain levels, improves sleep patterns, decreases fatigue, anxiety, depression, and cortisol levels in fibromyalgia patients. (And maybe in you as well?) International Journal of Neurology 84 (1996):205-217; Journal of Clinical Rheumatology 2 (1996):18-22; International Journal of Neuroscience 86 (1996):197-205 cited @ http://www.healingartsreport.com .
9. Some physicians believe increased light can positively affect serotonin levels. (source: Carol E. Watkins, M.D., psychiatrist). Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., Chief, Section on Environmental Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, feels that in this regard, intensity of the light is the most critical variable, not spectrum.
However full-spectrum light used in the poultry industry causes chickens to live twice as long, be calmer and less aggressive, and produce eggs 25% lower in cholesterol. Apparently, even human cholesterol levels drop when people are exposed to sunlight.
Non-full-spectrum lighting, which is often used in work places, has been shown to create hormones ACTH and cortisol in levels considered stressful.
10. In sum, part of emotional self-awareness means becoming aware of what physical factors innate to you enhance your mood - the foods you eat, the chemicals you put into your body, the exercise you get or don't get, and your surroundings.
11. It's important to know that what you put on your skin gets absorbed into your blood stream. We recommend that you use lotions and cosmetics and shaving cream that contain pure, natural ingredients such as those available through Arbonne. Gentleman (and you ladies who love your guys), you use shaving cream every day for years and years. I urge you to try Arbonne's shaving cream.
12. No matter how good your physical and emotional health, you need to be proactive and keep your immune system in top shape. It is your FIRST line of defense against bacteria (like pneumonia), and your ONLY line of defense against viruses such as flu, and bird flu. Your emotions directly affect your immune system.
Arbonne's Defense Builder and Get Well Soon Dietary Supplement are scientifically proven to nutritionally support the immune system, and a good neutraceutical such as these can positively effect your health and mood. To order them, go HERE. 12. Some people believe that being around (looking at) water (ocean, river, stream, swimming pool) enhances serotonin. One captain for the Royal Caribbean line ends each cruise saying that research has proven cruises to be beneficial to your health. There sure are a lot of people out staring at the water from horizon to horizon. It
could, however, also be what they're not seeing. Is it any wonder that when you've reached the top you get the office with the windows!
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Take The EQ Alive! Program to bolster your emotional lifestyle. New classes starting weekly beginning the first week in January. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for more information.
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