Mindfully Healing

The most well-known effect of this drink confirmed by research. Alcohol produces the neural and molecular changes of a rapid antidepressant, new research concludes. The drug lifts depression for up to 24 hours due to its effect on the brain’s chemistry. Naturally, the study’s authors were quick to warn against self-medication. Dr Kimberly Raab-Graham, the study’s first author, said: “Because of the high comorbidity between major depressive disorder and alcoholism there is the widely recognized self-medication hypothesis, suggesting that depressed individuals may turn to drinking as a means to treat

Autism research finds link between this vitamin and serotonin production. Many scientists have speculated that the problematic social behaviour of people with autism is related to low vitamin D and serotonin levels. Now a new study has found a causal link between vitamin D and three hormones which are important in social behaviour: serotonin, oxytocin and vasopressin. Genetic research has shown that vitamin D hormone activates a gene which produces an enzyme leading to higher levels of serotonin (Patrick & Ames, 2014). In the brain, serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter,

Why Americans are getting unhappier and the 10 happiest countries in the world. Norway is the happiest country in the world, closely followed by Denmark and Iceland. The United States, though, has become 5% unhappier over the past 10 years, despite people earning more money. The trend in happiness is the reverse for most countries, which have become happier. The US came 14th on the list and the United Kingdom ranked 19th. Canadians lived up to their reputation by ranking at number 7 on the list, while Australia came 9th.