DEPRESSION AND YOUR HEALTH

Many of us go through low moments in life; while some of us snap out of these feeling, others do not. People with a depressive disorder /clinical depression find that their state interferes with their day to day activities, and may also feel that life is not worth living. Depression is defined as “a mental state or chronic mental disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, and self-reproach; accompanying signs include psychomotor retardation (or less frequently agitation), withdrawal from social contact, and vegetative states such as loss of appetite and insomnia.” (Ref: medilexicon)

Depression may be caused by a number of factors: death of a loved one, broken relationships, loss of social status, etc. There are also many signs of depression: Some people tend to eat excessively, loss of appetite, drunkenness, loss of concentration, insomnia, chronic fatigue, suicidal thoughts etc. Whatever the case, depression can lead to emotional and physical problems, some of which are reversible (e.g. weight gain) and irreversible (e.g. suicide).

Depression doesn't just cause physical symptoms; it can also increase your risk for, or may worsen, certain physical illnesses or conditions. In turn, illness can also trigger depression. Depression increases your risk of disease and other conditions by, for example, increasing levels of stress hormones such as cortisol or adrenaline. Depression can affect the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight infection.

Depression affects each person in different ways, so symptoms caused by depression vary from person to person. Inherited traits, age, gender and cultural background all play a role in how depression may affect you. Do you think you might be depressed? Start by talking to someone today (doctor, relative, friend, Pastor, etc.) Depression symptoms may not get better on their own, and depression may get worse if it isn't treated. Untreated depression increases the chance of risky behaviors such as drug or alcohol addiction, especially in teenagers. It also can ruin relationships, cause problems at work, and make it difficult to overcome serious illnesses. A child suffering from depression may do poorly in school and exhibit anti-social/hostile traits.

Research shows that exercise can help with depression. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body. Regular exercise has been proven to: Reduce stress, ward off anxiety and feelings of depression, boost self-esteem and improve sleep.

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NUTRITIONAL/HEALTH BENEFITS OF PLANTAINS

P lantains are widely eaten in West Africa. Plantains are similar to bananas but larger in size. While bananas are termed fruits, plantains are vegetables. Bananas are mostly eating raw, while plantains are usually cooked before consumption. Plantains can be eaten unripe, ripen or over-ripe. When unripe, plantains are usually green in colour, when ripen, they turn yellow. In Nigeria, for example, unripe plantains are usually used to cook plantain porridge, ripe plantains are mostly fried and used as a supplement to main dishes like rice and beans. Over-ripe plantains are used to make snacks like plantain fritters.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF ZOBO/SORREL DRINK

z obo/sorrel was a must have during family gatherings. As children, we loved drinking it, not only because of how nice it tasted, but also because it coloured our lips and tongues red. Zobo (Nigerian) or Sorrel (Jamaican) is a red coloured drink made from a flower called Hibiscus sabdariffa. The sorrel plant contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, calcium, niacin, riboflavin and a group of compounds called flavonoids. Flavanoids not only gives the sorrel plant its deep red colour, but, are also rich in antioxidants which rids the body of toxins. The sorrel plant also contains nutraceleuticals, which are said to be helpful to the health. Nutraceleuticals can help prevent and treat several diseases including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF LIME AND HONEY

L ime and Honey are two must haves in my house. I use honey as a substitute for white sugar. I remember a friend of mine visited me once and she wanted to drink garri (drinking garri is local to Nigerians, i.e. eating dried cassava with cold water as opposed to hot water), she was astonished when I told her to use honey to sweeten her garri. I'm not a tea person, but my parents are, and a cup of tea for them is not complete without limes.

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