(NaturalPath) It’s safe to say everyone wants to be happy. Now what that means varies widely across the spectrum of humanity. If you haven’t noticed people are very different. But they all want to be happy. While there are many different things each person can do I their own life to be happy regarding relationships, job, home, etc there are some overriding principles on the health side of things that can help. Dr. Andrew Weil, MD has some tips.
Exercise
Human bodies need physical activity. Why else would our muscles and bones atrophy and get worse when we don’t use them? Dr. Weil notes that a potential cause of the high incidence of depression nowadays is due to the modern sedentary lifestyle. It can be aerobic, yoga, weights, walking and more than can help your mood. He says that for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, activities of moderate intensity, like brisk walking, are more successful than vigorous activity.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Inflammation in the body is a response to injury and attack by germs so it is important to make sure you are ready by following an anti-inflammatory diet. Inflammation can cause autoimmune disease like type-1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus and can play a causative role in heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as other age-related disorders, including some cancers.
That diet includes whole, unprocessed foods to reduce inappropriate inflammation, and provide viatmins, minerals and fiber. It consists of fruits and vegetables, fatty cold-water fish, healthy whole grains, olive oil, etc.
Fish Oil and Vitamin D
According to Dr. Weil, deficiencies are so common in the developed world, everyone should take them. He says up to three grams of a quality, moleculary-distilled fish oil supplement daily. Look for one that provides both EPA and DHA in a ratio of about three or four to one. Also he recommends 2,000 international units of vitamin D each day.
Depression-specific Herbs
To deal with mild to moderate depression, he suggests taking St. Johns’ Wort (Hypericum perforatum), SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) and Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea). These can help your mood.
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is powerful as it helps you gain perspective on your life. Dr. Weil suggests a gratitude journal as gratitude has been shown to boost subjective happiness levels in as little as three weeks.
Razi Berry, Founder and Publisher of Naturopathic Doctor News & Review (ndnr.com) and NaturalPath (thenatpath.com), has spent the last decade as a natural medicine advocate and marketing whiz. She has galvanized and supported the naturopathic community, bringing a higher quality of healthcare to millions of North Americans through her publications. A self-proclaimed health-food junkie and mother of two; she loves all things nature, is obsessed with organic gardening, growing fruit trees (not easy in Phoenix), laughing until she snorts, and homeschooling. She is a little bit crunchy and yes, that is her real name.