Monthly Archives: October 2023

Body, Diet, disease, Fitness, Health, mental health, Public health

Ashwagandha: The Natural Supplement for Anxiety and Stress Relief

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In the fast-paced world we live in, the quest for mental well-being has never been more critical. People are turning to various solutions, both conventional and holistic, to combat stress and anxiety. Among the latter, one natural remedy is gaining considerable attention – ashwagandha.

The Rise of Ashwagandha

Used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is experiencing a surge in popularity in the United States. According to the American Botanical Council’s latest report, ashwagandha ranked as the seventh most purchased supplement in 2021. This surge in interest may be attributed to the compelling research supporting its effectiveness.

Dr. Megan Bradley’s Perspective

Dr. Megan Bradley, a urogynecologist at the University of Pittsburgh, is among those who believe in the potential of ashwagandha. In fact, she considers ashwagandha so promising that it’s the only supplement she regularly takes.

Ashwagandha: An Adaptogen

Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen, a substance believed to enhance the body’s ability to adapt to stress. According to a 2021 survey by the Council for Responsible Nutrition, many people, like Dr. Bradley, report taking ashwagandha to improve their overall health and wellness.

Scientific Support

One small-scale study from 2019 revealed that adults who consumed ashwagandha capsules experienced reduced cortisol levels, a hormone released during stressful situations. Further bolstering its reputation, a 2022 review of multiple studies found that ashwagandha significantly decreased anxiety and stress levels. However, it also emphasized the need for more extensive research into the herb’s potential benefits.

Available in Various Forms

Ashwagandha is incredibly versatile and can be incorporated into one’s daily routine in various forms, including powders, capsules, liquid drops, and even gummies. Its adaptogenic properties and potential stress-relief benefits have piqued the interest of many seeking natural remedies for their mental well-being.

A Word of Caution

While ashwagandha appears promising, individuals with pre-existing thyroid conditions should exercise caution. Ashwagandha can lead to hyperthyroidism in people who already have an overactive thyroid. Therefore, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before adding ashwagandha to your regimen.

In a world where stress and anxiety are increasingly prevalent, ashwagandha emerges as a natural remedy offering potential relief. However, as with any supplement or herbal remedy, it’s crucial to consult with a medical professional before introducing it to your health and wellness routine.

Cited Works:

Hull, Kate. “A Doctor Only Takes 1 Supplement Regularly. It Can Help with Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep.” Insider, October 21, 2023. https://www.insider.com/doctor-takes-supplement-ashwagandha-stress-anxiety-sleep-2023-10?fbclid=IwAR2DkVvjPpKYD0xhHhqvo-PQvcu2DPTPrh-Ez8HBtbVhgbvxf9XM4AzVKA4.

Behavioral Science, brain, depression, disease, Health, mental health, Public health, Science

Understanding the Complex Relationship Between Depression and Cognitive Function

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In a new study recently published in Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, researchers from Bartin University and Istanbul Medipol University in Turkey shed light on the intricate connection between depression and cognitive function, specifically visuospatial memory. This study shows that depression can affect more than just emotional symptoms. It can also affect cognitive abilities, possibly leading to changes in the brain’s structure and function, especially in the prefrontal cortex and deeper parts like the amygdala.

Photo by Amel Uzunovic on Pexels.com

Previous studies had mixed results on how depression affected cognitive abilities and brain activity during cognitive tasks. This is what motivated Ozge Vural Keleş and Erol Yıldırım to look into these problems more.

To explore the relationship between depression and visuospatial working memory, the researchers administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to 501 volunteer university students and graduates. The study included 23 individuals with high depression scores and 20 with low depression scores, with similar ages and education levels in both groups.

Participants engaged in a visuospatial 2-back working memory task, assessing their working memory performance. This task required remembering the location of visual stimuli (faces or words) within a circular display and determining if the current stimulus matched the one presented two steps back in the sequence (the “2-back” condition). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to record brain responses in the prefrontal cortex during the task.

Surprisingly, the results indicated no significant behavioral differences between the high and low BDI groups, suggesting that visuospatial memory abilities were similar in both groups. However, fNIRS showed that people with high BDI scores had more activity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex while they were doing the task compared to people with low BDI scores. This suggests that the high BDI group exerted additional effort to achieve similar performance.

Although the study has some limitations, such as the lack of an official clinical diagnosis in the high BDI group and the relatively low task difficulty, it provides valuable insights into the relationship between depression and cognitive function. The findings highlight the complexities of depression’s impact on cognitive abilities and offer new avenues for future research in this field. Understanding these complexities is crucial for providing better support and interventions for individuals dealing with depression.

Cited Works:

Setionago, Bianca. “Depression Linked to Increased Frontal Brain Activity during Memory Tasks, Finds New Research.” PsyPost, October 20, 2023. https://www.psypost.org/2023/10/depression-linked-to-increased-frontal-brain-activity-during-memory-tasks-finds-new-research-214075?fbclid=IwAR2bAybaQYAO_cG9OAMNgA8DdauoLIdDzy8YJrdtDWk1dS6u8GurzZ4V-7o.

equal rights, government, History, Politics, Social Justice, White House

Temporary Relief Granted: Trump’s Gag Order Freeze and the First Amendment Challenge

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In a recent legal development, U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan temporarily halted a narrow gag order imposed on former President Trump in the 2020 federal election case. The significance of this decision lies in the broader context of the ongoing legal challenges faced by the 2024 GOP presidential candidate and the intricacies of First Amendment rights.

In response to the previous order, which they deemed to be “breathtakingly overbroad,” Trump’s legal team requested a temporary stay and a reevaluation of the gag order. The order, issued earlier this week, restrained Trump from making public statements that targeted Special Counsel Jack Smith, his staff, witnesses, or court staff. According to the order, these statements posed serious threats to the integrity of the proceedings, necessitating such restrictions.

Smith had initially proposed a “narrowly tailored” gag order, arguing that Trump’s public statements aimed to undermine confidence in the criminal justice system and potentially prejudice the jury pool through disparaging and inflammatory attacks on those involved in the case. The court’s decision to grant a temporary stay allows Trump’s lawyers additional time to present their arguments and seek clarification on the constraints imposed by the order.

While it remains uncertain how long the process of appealing the gag order might take, the case itself underscores the delicate balance between First Amendment rights and ensuring fair legal proceedings. It is a reminder that the boundaries of free speech are not absolute, particularly when public statements may affect the course of justice.

Earlier on the same day, in a separate case, Judge Arthur Engoron presiding over Trump’s New York civil fraud trial, imposed a $5,000 fine on the former president for violating the gag order. Although he stopped short of holding Trump in contempt, he did warn that future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, could result in more severe penalties, including possible jail time.

As the legal battles continue, this case sheds light on the complexities surrounding freedom of speech and its limitations, especially when intertwined with the legal process and concerns about prejudicing fair trials. The temporary stay offers an opportunity for further examination of these legal and constitutional nuances, making it a case to watch for those interested in the intersection of politics, law, and the First Amendment.

Cited Works:

Miranda, Shauneen. “Judge Temporarily Lifts Trump Gag Order in Federal Election Case.” Axios, October 21, 2023. https://www.axios.com/2023/10/21/trump-gag-order-election-case-chutkan-freeze?fbclid=IwAR0eTWKd3UoBtuMrPjL6zK_lRwEL-f3Fjv-u4U7mB_EQ2893gMq3bFw7wbM.