Blogging with Lee

I'm sure everybody knows at least one family member or friend who exhibits signs of depression. "Depression affects one in 10—or nearly 15 million—adults in the U.S.," according to WebMD. And that depression affects their quality of life. The majority of those reporting depression are of the opinion that their work, home life and relationships suffered as a result of it.

"Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad," according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). "But these feelings are usually short-lived and pass within a couple of days. When you have depression, it interferes with daily life and causes pain for both you and those who care about you. Depression is a common but serious illness."

And depression can reach into other areas. Researchers in Australia stated in a recent study that, "Depressive symptoms may increase the risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to dementia."

That's why the researchers studied omega-3 fatty acids and their effect on depressive symptoms. They found that "increasing omega-3 PUFA intakes may reduce depressive symptoms and the risk of progressing to dementia." See my first report today to learn more about this exciting study.

Also this week, we will take another look at lutein and zeaxanthin. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition reports that the two carotenoids may play a role in reducing the risk of late-stage age-related macular degeneration. Check out my second report.

Last but not least, researchers in Poland studied extracts of chokeberry and grapeseeds and found that they appear to support healthy blood clotting. See my last report for the details.

As always, I wish you the very best of health.