CONFIRMED: FL Shooter Prescribed Psychiatric Drugs Linked To Violent And Suicidal Behavior

(Free Thought Project) Jacksonville, FL — David Katz, was a 24-year-old male who lost his temper Sunday morning after losing a video game and began shooting up an e-sports tournament. He killed two innocent people and wounded 10 others before her turned the gun on himself and took his own life. Now, we have learned that Katz had been on the types of psychiatric medications known to cause violent thoughts and that are linked to many of the worst mass shootings in recent history.

According to family divorce records, Katz had been in and out of treatment for psychiatric issues since as early as the age of 12. According to a 2006 letter from the father’s attorney, as reported by CNN, Katz was prescribed a number of psychiatric medications, including an antipsychotic, and saw “a succession of psychiatrists.”

What’s more, a separate 2006 court filing states that a therapist said he had experienced a “psychiatric crisis” while prescribed these medications.

On top of the psychiatric crisis and the reported drug cocktail, CNN also obtained police records that show 26 calls for service to the police from the Katz family home in Columbia, Maryland, from 1993 to 2009, for issues ranging from “mental illness” to domestic disputes. At least two of those calls involved Katz arguing with his mother, though none of the reports provided to CNN show any physical violence. The Howard County Police Department declined to release the reports from a number of the incidents, citing statutory restrictions.

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David Katz’ past is eerily similar to that of Nikolas Cruz, except that his parents were both feds.

Both of Katz’ parents reportedly worked for the federal government according to a law enforcement source. Katz’ father, Richard Katz, is a NASA engineer employed at the Goddard Space Flight Center outside Washington, DC and his mother was listed as an employee of the Food and Drug Administration, according to CNN.

Since he was a child, Katz was prescribed a myriad of drugs including the antidepressant Lexapro, and Risperidone, sometimes used to treat schizophrenia.

There have been 20 drug regulatory agencies from seven different countries who’ve pointed out the dangerous side effects of Lexapro. The majority of the warning are for suicidal risk or suicidal behavior. Other side effects include, hostility or aggression, agitation, anxiety, mania or psychosis, irritability, and violence.

According to CNN, Katz’ father disputed the necessity of the drugs and a psychiatric evaluation sought by David’s mother, suggesting that his son instead “attend a support group for middle school students.” “Richard Katz has seen no evidence whatsoever of schizophrenia in David Katz,” a motion from his father’s lawyer said.

Despite the dozens of police reports stemming from Katz’ behavior, the laundry list of drugs he was taking to treat his “psychiatric crisis,” the fact that he was in treatment for psychiatric issues, and the fact that it was documented that he’d had multiple mental breakdowns involving the police, Katz submitted his fingerprints, underwent a background check, passed a firearms safety training course and legally purchased a 9mm handgun and a .45-caliber handgun in Maryland last month.

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As TFTP has reported on numerous occasions, the majority of mass shooters have links to psychological medications that carry serious warnings for side-effects on their labels.

Stephen Paddock, Omar Mateen, Gavin Long, Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold, James Holmes, and Nikolas Cruz, all have one thing in common other than the mass murders they carried out. They were all reportedly taking prescription drugs which alter their state of mind and carry a host of negative side effects ranging from aggression and suicide to homicidal ideation.

There have been 150 studies in 17 countries on antidepressant-induced side effects. There have been 134 drug regulatory agency warnings from 11 countries and the EU warning about the dangerous side effects of antidepressants.

Despite this deadly laundry list of potential reactions to these medications, their use has skyrocketed by 400% since 1988. Coincidentally, as antidepressant use went up, so did mass shootings.

The website SSRIstories.org has been documenting the link between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and violence. On the website is a collection of over 6,000 stories that have appeared in local media (newspapers, TV, scientific journals) in which prescription drugs were mentioned and in which the drugs may be linked to a variety of adverse outcomes including most of the mass shootings which have taken place on US soil.

As the Citizens Commission on Human Rights notes, before the late nineteen-eighties, mass shootings and acts of senseless violence were relatively unheard of. Prozac, the most well known SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressant, was not yet on the market. When Prozac did arrive, it was marketed as a panacea for depression which resulted in huge profits for its manufacturer Eli Lilly. Of course other drug companies had to create their own cash cow and followed suit by marketing their own SSRI antidepressants.

Subsequently, mass shootings and other violent incidents started to be reported. More often than not, the common denominator was that the shooters were on an antidepressant, or withdrawing from one. This is not about an isolated incident or two but numerous shootings.

The issue of psychotropic medication playing a role in mass shootings is not some conspiracy theory. It is very real and the drug manufacturers list these potentially deadly side effects on the very inserts of every one of these drugs. But the mainstream media and the government continue to ignore or suppress this information. Why is that?

It is no secret that the pharmaceutical industry wields immense control over the government and the media. It is their control which keeps any negative press about their dangerous products from airing. However, most people likely do not know the scope of this control.

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As Mike Papantonio, attorney and host of the international television show America’s Lawyer, explains, with the exception of CBS, every major media outlet in the United States shares at least one board member with at least one pharmaceutical company. To put that into perspective: These board members wake up, go to a meeting at Merck or Pfizer, then they have their driver take them over to a meeting with NBC to decide what kind of programming that network is going to air.

In the report below, Papantonio explains how the billions of dollars big pharma gives to mainstream media outlets every year is used to keep them subservient and complicit in covering up the slew of deadly side effects from their products.

How much longer will we allow these billion-dollar drug companies to control the narrative and not let this conversation take place? How many more mass shootings will take place before Americans wake up to this reality?

Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project, where this article first appeared. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Facebook.

New Insight Into How “Gut Feelings” Affect Mental Health, Depression And Anxiety

(Natural Blaze by Alex Pietrowski) In recent years, the study of causes and treatments of depression has uncovered a link to the health of the microbiome within the body’s digestive system. The hypothesis is that the presence or absence of healthy digestive bacteria affects the way the brain functions, and new research by a Florida State University neuroscientist sheds more insight into this.

The findings by research and psychology professor Linda Rinaman point to a very important connection between the gut and the brain, identifying pathways that help to understand why so-called ‘gut feelings’ have a powerful influence on emotions, mood and decision-making.

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

We expect these lines of research will help us better understand how gastrointestinal functions contribute to both normal and disordered mental function. ~Linda Rinaman

Her research looked at pathways between the gut and the brain in mammals, noting how feelings generated within the gut move into the brain, indicating that some ‘gut-feelings’ are a red flag and thereby may be a fair indicator of healthy mood and mental states.

In the human body, the vagus nerve acts as the pathway between the brain and gut. The nerve is the body’s largest and most extensive nerve, translating and carrying messages between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. If the gut is operating optimally, the brain is cued to respond more positively. Food and proper supplementation are important factors.

Related: Candida, Gut Flora, Allergies, and Disease

Scientific and anecdotal evidence suggests a poor diet can cause those protective, cautionary signals to get out of whack, leading to altered mood and behavior. For example, Rinaman said, a high-fat diet can promote a low-grade inflammatory response in the GI tract, changing vagal signals and possibly exacerbating symptoms of anxiety, depression or other disturbed mental states.

Rinaman said the types of bacteria within your gut are shaped by your diet, and those bacteria can affect your emotional and cognitive state. [Source]

The emotional significance of the vagus nerve is discussed further:

Research indicates that a healthy vagus nerve is vital in experiencing empathy and fostering social bonding, and it is crucial to our ability to observe, perceive, and make complex decisions. Tests have revealed that people with impaired vagal activity have also been diagnosed with depression, panic disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, panic disorders, violent mood swings, fibromyalgia, early Alzheimer’s and obesity. Given the state of society today and the vast array of dis-eases associated with unhealthy Vagus Nerves, it doesn’t take a medical doctor to conclude that by healing our collective Vagus Nerves, we can heal a lot of societies woes.

Scientists have discovered that artificial Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), through electrical impulses via a surgically implanted pacemaker like device, shows promising results in reducing depression, anxieties and even conditions such as epilepsy and obesity. VNS has also shown positive effects in promoting weight-loss as the signals to the brain of ‘fullness’ are more easily transmitted. But what if there were a less intrusive and more natural way to stimulate and heal the Vagus Nerve? ~Frank Huguenard

Related: Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases

The important takeaway here is that supporting healthy gut function along with healthy function of the vagus nerve is being demonstrated to be a potentially very potent way of holistically approaching treatment of depression and anxiety.

Evidence shows that modifying the diet, perhaps by consuming probiotics, can impact your mood and behavioral state. That’s very clear in animal and human studies. ~Linda Rinaman

Real Food Is a Potent Ally Against Depression

(Dr. Mercola) According to the World Health Organization, depression is now the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide,^1,² affecting an estimated 322 million people globally, including more than 16 million Americans, 6 million of which are seniors.³ Statistics also reveal we’re not being particularly effective when it comes to prevention and treatment. Worldwide, rates of depression increased by 18 percent between 2005 and 2015.⁴

If you or someone you love is struggling with depression or some other mental health problem, remember that your diet is a foundational aspect that must not be overlooked. As noted in a 2015 study⁵ published in the medical journal Lancet:

“Although the determinants of mental health are complex, the emerging and compelling evidence for nutrition as a crucial factor in the high prevalence and incidence of mental disorders, suggests that diet is as important to psychiatry as it is to cardiology, endocrinology and gastroenterology.”

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

The Compelling Link Between Food and Mood

Recent research^6,^7,⁸ looking at the effects of the antihypertensive DASH diet on mental health concluded this kind of dietary pattern, which is low in sugar and high in fresh fruits and vegetables, can help reduce the risk of depression in seniors. Overall, people who followed the DASH diet were 11 percent less likely to develop depression over the following six years, whereas those following a standard Western diet, high in red meat and low in fruits and vegetables, had the highest rates of depression.

It’s worth noting that while many conventional experts recommend the DASH diet, it is not necessarily ideal for optimal health, as it also promotes whole grains and low-fat foods, including low-fat dairy. Healthy fats, including saturated animal and plant fats and animal-based omega-3, are quite crucial for optimal brain health. I believe the reason the DASH diet produces many beneficial results is because it is low in sugar and high in unprocessed foods — not because it’s low in fat.

Other studies have shown that unprocessed foods, especially fermented foods, help optimize your gut microbiome, thereby supporting optimal mental health,^9,¹⁰whereas sugar, wheat (gluten) and processed foods have been linked to a greater risk for depression, anxietyand even suicide. The primary information highway between your gut and your brain is your vagus nerve, which connects the two organs.¹¹

Related: Natural Remedies for Depression

Your gut also communicates to your brain via the endocrine system in the stress pathway (the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal axis), and by producing mood-boosting neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA. These communication links help explain why your gut health has such a significant impact on your mental health.

The Strong Link Between Sugar and Depression

A number of food ingredients can cause or aggravate depression, but one of the most significant is sugar, particularly refined sugar and processed fructose.¹² For example, in one study, men consuming more than 67 grams of sugar per day were 23 percent more likely to develop anxiety or depression over the course of five years compared to those whose sugar consumption was less than 40 grams per day (which is still far higher than the 25 grams per day recommended for optimal health).¹³

This held true even after accounting for other contributing factors, such as socioeconomic status, exercise, alcohol use, smoking, other eating habits, body weight and general physical health. Lead author Anika Knüppel,¹⁴ a research student in the department of epidemiology and public health at University College London, commented on the findings, saying:¹⁵

“Sweet food has been found to induce positive feelings in the short-term. People experiencing low mood may eat sugary foods in the hope of alleviating negative feelings. Our study suggests a high intake of sugary foods is more likely to have the opposite effect on mental health in the long-term.”

Research¹⁶ published in 2002, which correlated per capita consumption of sugar with prevalence of major depression in six countries, also found “a highly significant correlation between sugar consumption and the annual rate of depression.” A Spanish study¹⁷ published in 2011 linked depression specifically to consumption of baked goods.

Those who ate the most baked goods had a 38 percent higher risk of depression than those who ate the least. This makes sense when you consider baked goods contain both processed grains and added sugars.

Related: Healthy Alternative Sugars and More

How Sugar Wreaks Havoc on Your Mood and Mental Health

Sugar has been shown to trigger depression and other mental health problems through a number of different mechanisms, including the following:

Feeding pathogens in your gut, allowing them to overtake more beneficial bacteria.

Suppressing activity of a key growth hormone in your brain called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF levels are critically low in both depression and schizophrenia, and animal models suggest this may actually be a causative factor.

Triggering a cascade of chemical reactions in your body that promote chronic inflammation, which over the long term disrupts the normal functioning of your immune system and wreaks havoc on your brain.

Contributing to insulin and leptin resistance, which also plays a significant role in your mental health.

Affecting dopamine, a neurotransmitter that fuels your brain’s reward system¹⁸ (hence sugar’s addictive potential^19,^20,²¹) and is known to play a role in mood disorders.²²

Damaging your mitochondria, which can have bodywide effects. Your mitochondria generate the vast majority of the energy (adenosine triphosphate or ATP) in your body.

When sugar is your primary fuel, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secondary free radicals are created, which damage cellular mitochondrial membranes and DNA. As your mitochondria are damaged, the energy currency in your body declines and your brain will struggle to work properly.

Healthy dietary fats, on the other hand, create far fewer ROS and free radicals. Fats are also critical for the health of cellular membranes and many other biological functions, including and especially the functioning of your brain.

Among the most important fats for brain function and mental health are the long-chained animal-based omega-3 fatsDHA and EPA. Not only are they anti-inflammatory, but DHA is actually a component in every cell of your body, and 90 percent of the omega-3 fat found in brain tissue is DHA.

Eating Real Food Is Key

A paper²³ published in Nutritional Neuroscience last year looked at evidence from laboratory, population research and clinical trials to create “a set of practical dietary recommendations for the prevention of depression, based on the best available current evidence.” According to this paper, the published evidence reveals five key dietary recommendations for the prevention of depression:

Following a “traditional” dietary pattern such as the Mediterranean, Norwegian or Japanese diet
Increasing consumption of antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables, legumes, wholegrain cereals, nuts and seeds (note that autoimmune diseases are rampant and whole grains and legumes are loaded with lectins and best avoided. See my interview with Dr. Steven Gundry for more details)
Eating plenty of omega-3-rich foods
Replacing unhealthy processed foods with real, wholesome nutritious foods
Avoiding processed foods, fast food, commercial baked goods and sweets

Processed Foods Are Problematic in More Ways Than One

Three brain- and mood-wrecking culprits you’ll automatically avoid when avoiding processed foods are added sugars, artificial sweeteners²⁴ and processed vegetable oils — harmful fats known to clog your arteries and cause mitochondrial dysfunction. Gluten also appears to be particularly problematic for many. If you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, you’d be well-advised to experiment with a gluten-free diet.

Certain types of lectins, especially wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), are also known for their psychiatric side effects. WGA can cross your blood brain barrier²⁵ through a process called “adsorptive endocytosis,” pulling other substances with it. WGA may attach to your myelin sheath²⁶ and is capable of inhibiting nerve growth factor,²⁷ which is important for the growth, maintenance and survival of certain target neurons.

Processed foods are also a significant source of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients and toxic herbicides like Roundup. In addition to being toxic and potentially carcinogenic, glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has been shown to preferentially decimate beneficial gut microbes. Many grains need to dry in the field before being harvested, and to speed that process, the fields are doused with glyphosate a couple of weeks before harvest.

As a result of this practice, called desiccation, grain-based products tend to contain rather substantial amounts of glyphosate. This reason alone is enough to warrant a grain-free diet, but if you do choose to eat whole grain products, make sure it’s organic to avoid glyphosate contamination.

Your beverage choices may also need an overhaul, as most people drink very little pure water, relying on sugary beverages like sodas, fruit juices, sports drinks, energy drinks and flavored water for their hydration needs. None of those alternatives will do your mental health any favors.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet Protects and Supports Good Mental Health

As mentioned above, one of the mechanisms by which good nutrition bolsters mental health is by cutting down inflammation in your body, and a high-sugar diet is exceptionally inflammatory. A number of studies have linked depression with chronic inflammation.^28,²⁹

For example, a study³⁰ published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2016 concluded that depressed patients had 46 percent higher levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein in their blood. Interestingly, they also had 16 percent lower levels of low fractional exhaled nitric oxide, which adds further support for doing exercises that boost nitric oxide cycling, such as the Nitric Oxide Dump exercise. As explained in the study:

“Nitric oxide (NO), in addition to being an inflammatory mediator, is also a neurotransmitter at the neuron synapses. It modulates norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine and glutamate and thus is speculated to play a role in the pathogenesis of depression. Nitric oxide is also currently seen as a marker of airway inflammation and can be measured during exhalation.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) may represent both constitutive and inducible NO. Small studies suggest that subjects with depressed mood have low levels of FeNO … Subjects with depression also have low levels of plasma and platelet NO. The low systemic levels of NO have been postulated to be responsible for the increased risk of cardiovascular events observed in subjects with depression, as NO produces vasodilatation …

In summary, this large population-based study found that depression is associated with high levels of CRP and low levels of FeNO. These findings corroborate the premise that inflammation could play a role in the pathophysiology of major depression and that major depression may be seen as a psychoneuroimmunological disorder.”

Four Powerful Dietary Interventions

In addition to transitioning from a diet of processed fare to real food, consider:

•Implementing a cyclical ketogenic diet, high in healthy fats, low in net carbs with moderate amounts of protein. This kind of diet will optimize your mitochondrial function, which has significant implications for mental health. In fact, one noticeable effect of nutritional ketosis is mental clarity and a sense of calm. The reason for this welcome side effect has to do with the fact that when your body is able to burn fat for fuel, ketones are created, which is the preferred fuel for your brain.

•Intermittent fasting will also help optimize your brain function and prevent neurological problems by activating your body’s fat-burning mode, preventing insulin resistance and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, the latter of which has been identified as a causative factor in depression.^31,³²

While you may achieve some of the benefits from intermittent fasting simply by respecting the time boundaries, regardless of the foods you consume, it is far better if you consume high-quality unprocessed food.

Since you’ll be eating less, it’s vitally important that you get proper nutrition. Healthy fats are essential because intermittent fasting pushes your body to switch over to fat-burning mode. Particularly if you begin to feel tired and sluggish, it may be a sign that you need to increase the amount of healthy fat in your diet.

•Water fasting. Once you’re starting to burn fat for fuel, gradually increase the length of your daily intermittent fasting to 20 hours per day. After a month of 20-hour daily fasting, you’re likely in good metabolic shape and able to burn fat as fuel. At that point, you can try a four or five-day water-only fast.

I now do a quarterly five-day fast, as I believe this is one of the most powerful metabolic health interventions out there. A five-day fast will effectively clean out senescent cells that have stopped duplicating due to aging or oxidative damage, which would otherwise clog up your optimal biologic function by causing and increasing inflammation.

•Exercise and get regular movement throughout your day. Exercise is one of the most effective antidepressant strategies out there, beating most medical interventions for depression.

Electromagnetic Field Exposures Could Be Wreaking Havoc With Your Mental Health

Another foundational strategy to prevent or treat depression and anxiety is to limit exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Studies have linked excessive EMF exposure to an increased risk of both depression and suicide.³³ Addiction to or “high engagement” with mobile devices can also trigger depression and anxiety, according to recent research from the University of Illinois.³⁴

Research³⁵ by Martin Pall, Ph.D., reveals a previously unknown mechanism of biological harm from microwaves emitted by cellphones and other wireless technologies, which helps explain why these technologies can have such a potent impact on your mental health. Embedded in your cell membranes are voltage gated calcium channels (VGCCs), which are activated by microwaves. When activated, a cascade of biochemical effects occurs that result in the creation of extremely destructive hydroxyl free radicals.

Hydroxyl free radicals decimate mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, their membranes and proteins. The end result is mitochondrial dysfunction, which we now know is at the heart of most chronic disease. The tissues with the highest density of VGCCs are your brain, the pacemaker in your heart and male testes. Hence, health problems such as Alzheimer’s, anxiety, depression, autism, cardiac arrhythmias and infertility can be directly linked to excessive microwave exposure.

So, if you struggle with anxiety or depression, be sure to limit your exposure to wireless technologies, in addition to addressing your diet and exercise. Simple measures include turning your Wi-Fi off at night, not carrying your cellphone on your body and not keeping portable phones, cellphones and other electric devices in your bedroom. The electric wiring inside your bedroom walls is probably the most important source to address.

Your best bet here is to turn off the power to your bedroom at night. This will work if there are no adjacent rooms. If there are, you may need to shut those rooms off also. The only way to know would be to measure the electric fields. For additional lifestyle guidelines that can help prevent and/or treat depression, see the nondrug solutions section at the end of this previous article on depression.

Research Proves Emotional Wellbeing is Crucial to Good Physical Health

(NaturalNews – Reuben Chow) Much research over the years has shown that a positive emotional state actually has a very strong and profound impact on one’s physical health.

Endorphins and the immune system

Most people are aware of endorphins, the “feel-good hormones” in the body. Endorphins are a type of natural occurring substance known as peptides or neuropeptides which influence one’s mood, pain and pleasure. When released, they give rise to pleasurable responses not dissimilar to those linked to opiates.

What most people are probably unaware of is that endorphins can also be found in the immune system.

“The astounding revelation is that these endorphins and other chemicals like them are found not just in the brain, but in the immune system, the endocrine system, and throughout the body. When people discovered that there were endorphins in the brain that caused euphoria and pain relief, everyone could handle that. However, when they discovered they were in the immune system as well, it just didn’t fit, so these findings were denied for years. The original scientists had to repeat their studies many times to be believed,” said Candace Pert, PhD, former Chief of the Section on Brain Biochemistry of the Clinical Neuroscience Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health.

In other words, emotions are not just purely psychological, but actually have a direct impact on the functioning of different systems of the body, including the immune system.

According to Dr. Pert, viruses and neuropeptides use the same receptors to get into a cell. If there are more of the latter around, viruses would find it more difficult to penetrate cells.

Positive emotions and immunity

One’s mood and attitude has a great impact on his or her immune function. When optimistic and happy, one’s immunity is much stronger.

Several studies have shown that laughter and other positive emotional states can actually boost immune function. Indeed, laughter, play, love, faith, hope and self-acceptance help to boost and balance the immune system.

Even the use of therapies such as guided imagery, hypnosis and other meditative states has been revealed to improve immune function.

Other ways positive emotions improve health

More specific associations shown in other studies were stated by Jeanne Achterberg, PhD. For example, feeling helpless, hopeless, fearful, anxious or stressed all negatively affected health in one way or another. On the other hand, feeling secure and being able to cope actually countered the harmful effects of negative emotions, while feeling relaxed and joyful improved circulation to injured or painful areas of the body and boosted tissue repair.

A sense of control over a serious illness, attained via taking action, also helped to reduce fear and depression.

In one study, the animals trained to have a sense of control were most likely to fight off injected tumor cells, whereas those conditioned to experience helplessness were more likely to get cancer and die.

Research has also found that positive emotions helped to maintain blood pressure at healthy levels, while being optimistic helped to improve physical health and boost mental functioning. Other than boosting the immune system, laughing could help decrease inflammation.

Further, research suggested that having a sense of control, commitment and connectedness, plus looking at change as a challenge as supposed to a threat, helped to maintain good health even when placed under stress.

In addition, it was shown that meditation helped to produce beneficial changes in both the immune system and the brain.

Conclusion

Moral of the story? Laugh more, be more relaxed, choose to look at life more positively, learn to let go, and use therapies such as meditation and guided imagery to improve health.

Sources for this article include:

Trivieri, Jr., Larry, and Anderson, John W. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. 2nd ed. New York, USA: Celestial Arts, 2002. Print.

Murray, Michael, ND, and Pizzorno, Joseph, ND. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press, 1998. Print.

Mercola, Joseph, Dr., and Pearsall, Kendra, Dr. Take Control of Your Health. Schaumburg, IL: Mercola.com, 2007. Print.

Natural Health Benefits of Adding Beauty in the Home

(NaturalPapa – Regi Waters) Although many people associate the positive health benefits of art with creating it themselves, psychologists and other medical professionals have also indicated that simply viewing art on a regular basis can also provide you with several perks. Therefore, it is a good idea for fathers to consider purchasing art prints to place in their home. Even if you are not very familiar with the art world, you can easily pick out a few eye-catching prints by utilizing an online art store.

Here are a few ways that art can benefit you and your family:

Bright Colors can Increase an Infant’s Cognitive Abilities – According to psychologists, exposing a baby to a wide variety of colors will enable their brain to make more neuron connections than their peers who do not receive the same level of visual exposure. In other words, placing art prints on your walls that contain bright colors can actually help your child become more intelligent. This is definitely a great way to give them a good head start in life, and you can provide them with this important opportunity without needing to spend a lot of money.
Art can Reduce Their Stress Level – Although many people believe that young children do not have a high amount of stress in their lives, it is important to recognize the fact that they do deal with factors on a daily basis that can cause them to feel stressed out. For example, if they have an older sibling, they could feel stress based around the idea that they could be picked on at any moment. Therefore, it is vital to take steps to help reduce the level of stress that is felt by each member of your home.
Viewing Art can Increase Creativity – Having a creative outlet is a great way for a child to relieve their anxiety and increase their self-esteem. Fortunately, research has proven that simply viewing art will enable the viewer to become more creative. In other words, placing art prints on your walls is an investment in your child’s overall future creativity. When you consider how often they will be called upon to be creative in the future, it is easy to understand why you should help them build their level of creativity at a young age.
Art Boosts Mental Health – There have been several studies conducted that have proven that there is a link between viewing art on a regular basis and having a positive mental outlook. In fact, developing an appreciation for art can help the viewer ward off feelings of depression. When you add this to the fact that art can also reduce stress, increase creativity and increase a child’s mental faculties, it is no wonder that so many people make the decision to place colorful art prints in their home.

Now that you understand all the positive benefits of art, it is a good idea to consider purchasing art prints for each child’s room and any shared areas of your home. By doing this, you will help give your child a good basis for positive mental health, and you will also encourage them to develop an appreciation for art and other cultures.