✨ 5 Root Causes or Low Mood ✨
A lot of people are wondering about mood these days. In these uncertain times we certainly have a lot to worry about, however people often wonder, why I a sad for no reason?
Often times there is a reason! We just have to dig in with functional medicine labs to find out why. And it's not all just serotonin. Lots of people think mood only relates to serotonin levels in the brain, but that’s only part of the story.
Think of it this way:
Your (or your kid's) brain is connected to the rest of your body. So your mood depends on the right balance of nutrients, hormones, and other chemical messengers throughout your entire body—including your gut, thyroid, and immune system.
This is not an exhaustive list, but to give you some examples, here are 5 root causes of mood issues that we investigate when taking a functional medicine approach.
1️⃣ Hormonal Changes
Low thyroid hormone is a well established cause of mood problems. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone also influence mood. The only way to know for sure is to test.
2️⃣ Chronic Inflammation
Many studies have linked inflammatory cytokines with mood problems—even when the source of inflammation is outside the brain. It’s thought these cytokines pass through the blood brain barrier.
3️⃣ Poor Gut Health
Did you know that the microbes inhabiting your gut produce hundreds of neurochemicals—including 95% of the body’s serotonin? These chemicals influence both digestion AND mood, through what’s called the gut-brain axis.
4️⃣ Disrupted Stress Response
Cortisol is the hormone our bodies make in response to chronic stress, and studies link disrupted cortisol levels with mood. We can test cortisol levels in the saliva to observe its cyclical pattern over the course of a day.
5️⃣ Suboptimal Nutrition
Serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters are made out of amino acids from protein. The enzymes used to produce them depend on vitamins and minerals, like magnesium and vitamin B6. I’ll share later all about nutrition and mood!
I know to some people, it may sound crazy to consider these seemingly unrelated issues when somebody struggles with mood, but if you are wondering why am I sad for no reason then it's worth digging in. Often, there is a root cause and it's treatable with advanced integrative therapies.
I’ve seen it time and time again.
A whole-person approach is the most effective way to get results that last.
When you're ready here's how Dr. Ellie can help:
When your child, teen or young adult child is grappling with gut issues, skin issues, menstrual problems, focus issues, hyperactivity, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, or perfectionism you know they are suffering. Tummy and headaches, getting sick a lot, and feeling run down take a toll on your child and on you.
You want to help the ones you love ease their suffering and alleviate their symptoms by
addressing their underlying medical conditions without going straight to adding pharmaceutical medications that can come with their own set of adverse side effects and complications.
As a holistic pediatrician, I uncover and treat the underlying root causes of symptoms while working to reduce the need for medications so they can get back to being a kid and reclaim their childhood joy.
With advanced diagnostic testing and a personalized treatment program I take a thoughtful, thorough, and caring medical approach to address your child’s health. We will address genetic factors, diet, gut health, lifestyle as I walk hand in hand with you and your child toward sustainable well being, resilience, and joy.
For more information on holistic health check out my other posts:
Dr. Ellie MacGregor is a holistic integrative and functional medicine pediatrician who specializes in the treatment of celiac disease, food allergies, ADHD, anxiety, depression, gut issues, eczema, and other recurring symptoms using a blend the best of conventional and alternative therapies to prioritize your child's health.. She is the owner of Middle Path Integrative Pediatrics with over 14 years of experience. Dr. Ellie MacGregor helps readers separate fact from spin to make informed decisions about their health and the health of their children.
Get Dr. Ellie’s Guide to Whole Child Health for more information or view her website to get in touch.
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