Nuts for nuts...

If you or a loved one is taking Prozac, consider switching to cashews instead (yes, cashews!)

by: J. D. Heyes

Mood- and mind-altering drugs that ostensibly "treat" depression are often just triggers for violent behavior, as we have seen repeatedly in the past. As documented by the website Psych Drug Shooters, the vast majority of mass murderers since the "Prozac boom" have been on these mood-altering, psychosis-inducing medications.

The good news is, there is a natural alternative for these dangerous psychotropic meds if you're trying to battle depression: cashew nuts.

Yes, that's right, a couple handfuls of cashews works like a prescription dose of Prozac, according to the Family Health Freedom Network, citing some of the latest research.

"Cashews are high in tryptophan, which the body turns into serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for mood regulation, healthy sleep and even sexual desire in the body," the site reported.

"Increasing your tryptophan intake by consuming whole, natural cashews sounds like an excellent alternative to prescription drugs any day. They also provide a host of other benefits to the body as well, from your cardiovascular health to your digestive system."

Health Tips Spot reported further that the cashew nut is also one of the world's healthiest foods, though only a small percentage of the natural medicines database is focused on cashew benefits research.

So healthy, too

Here are some of the other health benefits of cashews, which come primarily from Brazil and a few countries in Africa:

-- Cashews are stuffed with an abundance of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and soluble dietary fiber, which helps to prevent serious disease processes like cancer.

-- They contain huge amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids – oleic and palmitoleic acids that benefit your cardiovascular system. In short, they belong to a group of foods providing essential fatty acids that can increase your levels of good cholesterol while simultaneously decreasing the bad cholesterol. Research has shown that the popular Mediterranean diet is based on monounsaturated fatty acids and helps your body stay protected against strokes and coronary artery diseases by supporting your blood lipid profile.

-- These nuts, which are delicious, also contain essential minerals like potassium, copper, zinc, selenium, iron and magnesium. Eating just a small handful daily gives your body the necessary daily requirement of minerals, while helping to stave off disease processes that are caused by mineral deficiencies. "Moreover," Health Tips Spot notes, "selenium is a crucial micronutrient and it functions as a co-factor for antioxidant enzymes, like Glutathione peroxides- one of the strongest antioxidants in our bodies. Additionally, copper also functions as a co-factor for other crucial enzymes like superoxide dismutase and cytochrome c-oxidase. Zinc, on the other hand, does the same with enzymes responsible for regulation of digestion, DNA synthesis, and gonadal function."

-- Cashews are also complete with essential vitamins, including pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin and thiamin. Just 100 grams of cashew nuts will give you 30 percent of your required daily recommended intake of vitamin B6. Also, it should be noted that B6 can decrease your chance of developing other diseases and conditions.

'Behavior balance'

"Furthermore, niacin protects us from pellagra or dermatitis," Health Tips Spot reported. "Additionally, the abovementioned vitamins are needed for protein, fat, and carbohydrates metabolism at a cellular level."

And of course, there are also the anti-depressant qualities of cashews.

"Cashews are rich in tryptophan- a vital amino acid our bodies require, so it encourages proper child growth and development, behavior balance, mood regulation, improved sleep, and they can significantly decrease the levels of anxiety, stress, and depression," the site reported. "In only two handfuls of cashews, there are 2000 mg of tryptophan. Additionally, it has been proven that this compound is equally successful as the antidepressants. However, the good thing about cashews as a treatment for depression is the absence of any side effects that are usually caused by antidepressants."

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/053377_depression_cashews_drug_alternatives.html#ixzz43XT7ExTz