Acne

We tend to think of feeling angry as being caused by rudedrivers, people we don’t like, or 100 degree temperatures; thatbeing sad is the result of losing something we had or not havingsomething we wanted; and that feeling good is caused by kindpeople, successful projects, or ice cream cones.

When we’re working on our emotional intelligence we work on ourself-talk and attributional style (optimism), our communicationskills, empathy, and managing emotions, and it’s good toremember that we also live in a body which is made up ofchemicals, an internal environment that also affects ouremotional state. Let’s face it, your less apt to get angry whenyou’re well-rested, eating well, exercising, and not beingirritated by toxic cosmetics, lotions and perfumes.

It is believed that our feelings are regulated byneurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, anddopamine. Serotonin is most often called the “feel good”neurotransmitter.

Here are some things to know about this important moodregulator.

1.Restoring levels of serotonin in the body relieves symptoms ofdepression and anxiety.

2. Vitamin B6 and magnesium can elevate serotonin. Source: Dr.Allan D. Lieberman, M.D., FAAEM

3. Seratonin receptors decrease significantly with age - up to55%. Source: Research reported by Carolyn Meltzer, M.D.,Assistant Professor of Radiology and Psychiatry, U. ofPittsburgh.

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; theydon’t produce it. Your body produces serotonin throughL-tryptophan. L-Tryptophan is present in pork, duck and turkey– maybe this is one reason we love Thanksgiving so much!

6. Research indicates that low levels of serotonin in the braincan lead to underlying inability to handle powerful feelingswhich can result in impulsive acts, aggressive behaviors, poorjudgment, and self-destructive tendencies.

According to the Society for Neuroscience, in experiments,monkeys with less serotonin are the ones who take daring jumpsfrom the trees and injure themselves. Rats low in serotonin dorisky things in experiments, and also accept small immediaterewards instead of waiting for a bigger prize.

7. Serotonin can also be enhanced by talk therapy and by aerobicexercise such as jogging or dance. Source: Harvard psychiatristJoseph Glenmullen, author of “Prozac Backlash.”(www.discover.com)

8. Touch increases serotonin during massage and decreases painlevels, improves sleep patterns, decreases fatigue, anxiety,depression, and cortisol levels in fibromyalgia patients. (Andmaybe 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 affect serotoninlevels positively (source: Carol E. Watkins, M.D.,psychiatrist).

Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., Chief, Section on EnvironmentalPsychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, feels that inthis regard, intensity of the light is the most criticalvariable, not spectrum.

However full-spectrum light used in the poultry industry causeschickens to live twice as long, be calmer and less aggressive,and produce eggs 25% lower in cholesterol. Apparently, evenhuman cholesterol levels drop when people are exposed tosunlight.

Non-full-spectrum lighting, which is often used in work places,has been shown to create hormones ACTH and cortisol in levelsconsidered stressful.

10. In sum, part of emotional self-awareness means becomingaware of what physical factors innate to you enhance your mood -the foods you eat, the chemicals you put into your body, theexercise you get or don’t get, and your surroundings.

Some people believe that being around (looking at) water (ocean,river, stream, swimming pool) enhances serotonin. The captain onthe Royal Caribbean line ends each cruise saying that researchhas proven cruises to be beneficial to your health. There sureare a lot of people out staring at the water from horizon tohorizon. It could, however, also be what they’re not seeing.

11. Last but not least, our health effects our emotions, whichin turn effect our immune system which is out health. Besidessupporting your serotonin levels, you can bolster your immunesystem by neutraceuticals. Products such as Arbonne’s Get WellSoon Dietary Supplement ( susandunn.myarbonne.com ) arescientifically proven to nutritionally support the immunesystem. Our immune system is our FIRST line of defense againstbacteria (such as pneumonia), and our ONLY line of defenseagainst viruses (such as flu and bird flu). Their cosmetics,lotions, shaving cream, hormone replacements, and baby productsalso support your health because they are made of pure naturalingredients, and are non-allergenic and odor free. This iscrucial because what you put on your skin (and your baby’s skin)is absorbed into the bloodstream. Products containing mineraloil, for instance, clog pores so our skin can’t “breathe.”

Living a healthy life requires a balanced lifestyle and abalanced brain.

About the author:

Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach, www.susandunn.cc,mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc . Individual coaching, Internetcourses, ebooks, EQ Alive! coach certification program, rated#1, training worldwide. For nutriceuticals, skin care, babyproducts, cosmetics, anti-aging, acne, go susandunn.myarbonne.com . Email for FR** EQ ezine

Filed under: Acne