Thursday, July 10, 2008

Do You Feel Life is Worth Living?

In Japanese, the phrase ikigai translates to "life worth living". In a Japanese study, researchers looked at how a belief that life is worth living affects mortality. 43,391 Japanese adults were asked the question "Do you have ikigai in your life?". Among the subjects who died over the next seven years, a significantly higher number of them expressed that they did not have a sense that life was worth living. These people also had a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and other external causes of mortality.

Personality as a Longevity Predictor

In a study to determine the effects of personality on longevity, the personality traits of 2359 people aged 17-98 were assessed. Over the course of the study 40% of participants passed away. Those who were found to be more extroverted, emotionally stable, or conscientious lived on average 2 to 3 years longer than those who scored below the mean in those areas. These results are independent from the effects of smoking, obesity, or gender differences. Specifically, emotional stability proved to be a strong predictor for deaths from cardiovascular disease.

Supplementing for Mild Depression

For relief from mild depression, Dr. Andrew Weil suggests adding vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant rich supplements to a well-balanced diet. Dr. Weil recommends four specific supplements: B vitamins, St. Johns Wort, SAMe(S-adenosylmethionine), and fish oil. Research has shown that patients with depression have exhibited lower levels of B vitamins, specifically B6. B6 is found in many different foods such as salmon and peanut butter, but can also be found in pill form. St. Johns Wort has also yielded promising results as an alternative treatment for depression. In studies, standardized extracts of St. Johns Wort have proven as effective as Prozac at treating depression, although it should not be combined with birth control, anti-retroviral medications, or antidepressant medications. SAMe had similar results to St. Johns Wort but has been shown to work more quickly. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are helpful in promoting overall positive feelings. 1000-2000 mg per day of fish oil can be useful in treating mild forms of depression according to Dr. Weil.