The Stress Connection: Meeting Hormonal, Nutritional, and Metabolic Needs

Many chronic illnesses are affected by stress (see Stress, Immune Response, and Illness). There have been many links between psychiatric symptoms, stress, mitochondrial function, and the endocrine system. A common thread connecting them all is nutrition.

The United States' government organization, NIMH, is currently running studies using nutritional substances to augment treatment of some neurobiological brain disorders such as autism, bipolar and schizophrenia.

"Fish Oil": $$ and Favorite Brands of Omega-3 Supplements

Over the years, many of us parents have investigated different brands of omega-3 fatty acid supplements for purity and palatability. How much EPA and/or DHA is needed for the type of symptoms our child has also been an issue. Some health care providers say GLA is important as well for some individuals who might have a problem converting. We've also come up with ideas about affordability. Here are our "secrets."

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil): EPA, DHA, and How Much is Enough?

We've discussed what omega-3 fatty acids are, and how essential they are for our general health (Brain Health: Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)). In order to choose an omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) supplement, it is helpful to understand what two of the essential fats, EPA and DHA, are.

There are so many of these fish oils supplements on the market, each touting its own ratio of DHA to EPA as "best". It may be more of a matter of "best" for "what?".

Brain Health: Omega-3 Fatty Acids ("Fish Oil")

Most people who have been researching how to help a child’s brain develop healthily, have read a lot about essential fatty acids (EFAs), specifically, Omega-3 fatty acids. They are essential to the proper development and functioning of our nervous system, including brain and vision, as well as the cardiovascular system.

What other MEDICAL Causes get called “Schizophrenia”?

This continues our discussion of the topics "Some Known Medical Causes of 'Mental' Symptoms" and "What are some genetic causes of psychosis?" It goes beyond the urinary tract infections (UTIs), tumors, auto-immune disorders, heart problems, etc. that get so easily diagnosed as "mental illnesses" ranging from depression and anxiety to bipolar and schizophrenia.

As modern research techniques start revealing the medical causes behind some categories of illnesses we have been calling “schizophrenia”, we would expect these now known causes to be removed from the label “schizophrenia.”  After all, the DSM IV specifically EXCLUDES cases from that diagnosis which are caused by a “general medical condition”.

But that is not the case.

Here are some more medical causes of symptoms still diagnosed as “schizophrenia” in addition to chromosomal deletion, 22q11 (velocardiofacial syndrome)[1] and X-chromosome gene polymorphism--HOPA12pb[2] which have already been discussed.