Ross Walter Nutritionist and Naturopath health articles and blog

sunglasses can cause sleep problems, depression, and more!

6/12/2018

Sunglasses have become very popular over the past few decades, more as a fashion statement than anything beneficial for you!

Like many things which initially appear logical, like the sun allegedly causing skin cancer, or eating fat makes you fat, when you really dive into the physiology of the body and how it works, and read scientific studies on the topic, you find that what may be the popular belief in the media or government health advice, is completely wrong!

We are told in the media and so-called health organisations like the Cancer Council, who are advising everyone to protect their eyes from the sun with sunglasses as the sun is so dangerous! The Cancer Council have added "slide on sunglasses" to their "slip slop slap" sun safe programs, and their lack of knowledge on the effects of this new advice is appalling.

I had previously researched sunglasses and their effects on health years ago, before I attended a Cancer Council seminar on cancer prevention in 2017. When they introduced their new advice about everyone wearing sunglasses, I publicly asked them were they aware of the health effects of sunglasses, and I was told that there were none! Ok, so I informed them that:

1) Sunglasses cause sleep problems, as your eyes must be exposed to bright sunlight during the day in order to make melatonin, the sleep hormone! So blocking that bright sunlight with sunglasses when outside will reduce melatonin production and secretion, to cause difficulties with getting to sleep or staying asleep. When you don't sleep well, your immune system suffers, which in turn also increases your risks of all cancers. They hadn't heard of this!

2) Sunglasses cause depression. Your eyes have special receptor cells which sends signals to your brain to make serotonin, one of your happy feel-good hormones! A deficiency in serotonin is typical in those with depression. This is the reason why low sunlight exposure during winter in locations further away from the equator causes "seasonal affective disorder" or the "winter blues" or depression. They didn't know this either!

3) Sunglasses cause you to sunburn quicker and more severely, and INCREASES your risks of skin cancer. Your eyes sense the increasing level of sunlight when you are outside and sends hormones to the melanocytes in your skin to produce more melanin, which is your tanning pigment that protects you against sunburn! Wearing sunglasses stops this protective function of the body, so you sunburn more quickly... And they didn't know this either!

And this is all in published research, which I actually provided to the Cancer Council at that seminar in 2017. Nothing seems to have changed in their appalling advice, so I'm making this information public again.

I'm not suggesting that you should never wear sunglasses again, but increasing your "sunglass-free" time when you are outside can help your sleep and moods very quickly! Initially your eyes can be sensitive to sunlight if you have worn sunglasses all the time, but a gradual reduction of wearing sunglasses will reduce your sensitivity.

I have helped so many clients to improve their sleep or their moods or health with very small changes like this! There are many other factors which can cause sleep issues or depression, and each person's causes can be different. It is so important to find and treat the root causes of health issues for a long-term fix!

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Zinc deficiency linked to autism

11/11/2018

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Autism is a a very prevalent and complex disorder of which the incidences are growing at a very disturbing rate - in just 9 years the official incidences of diagnosed autism has TRIPLED to one in 36 children, and one in 14 children with developmental delays. This huge increase cannot be explained just because of genetics. The more likely causative factors are environmental - how we interact with our environment, such as from nutrient deficiencies, chemical and toxin and radiation exposure, stress, and lifestyle factors.

In a 2015 study, it found that a high percentage of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders were deficient in zinc, a mineral that is needed for many metabolic and neurological processes, including the development and health of the nervous system and production of hormones and neurotransmitters for good mental health. Hence a deficiency of zinc can cause hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances and dysfunction seen in autism. The study also reported that the zinc deficiency was often accompanied by a copper overload or copper toxicity, which can result in impaired social behaviour, and impaired language and communication issues, common in autism disorders.

Zinc is also needed for good immune system function, for good functioning of the senses, for good digestive system function, and many more uses. Digestive issues are very common in those with autism disorders. And with gut issues being linked to brain conditions, this can explain part of the common digestive issues seen in autism, or in zinc deficiency. Such conditions include chronic constipation or diarrhoea, indigestion, reflux, heartburn, pains, bloating and gas, as well as digestive issues like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, leaky gut and irritable bowel disease.

The same study found that incidences of autism can increase from pregnant women who are deficient in zinc, and women who are pregnant and breastfeeding need a higher intake of zinc-rich food or supplements, or this can result in deficiencies in the mother and baby to cause neurological and digestive conditions in both.

Zinc isn't the only answer to explaining or treating autism disorders, but it is one of many factors which can greatly help in a holistic treatment plan for sufferers. Zinc deficiency is also an issue in many other mental health issues such as depression and anxiety and others. Zinc deficiency is an issue I see a lot in my clinical practice, mainly from a poor intake of zinc-rich foods, and the increasing popularity of vegetarian and vegan diets which are generally low in zinc. Stress also depletes zinc, so a high-stress environment can lead to a deficiency even if your intake is good.

Your zinc and copper levels can be tested, as can other nutritional minerals and toxic metals, which are also common in autism disorders. If you have other mental health symptoms or digestive symptoms (mentioned above), I can help with nutritional advice and supplementation if needed, to help reduce your symptoms and improve your health! The right form of zinc is crucial, as some are much better than others.

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What is Pyrrole Disorder?

3/5/2018

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What is Pyrrole Disorder? It is a little known condition which can be initiated from severe or chronic stress or emotional trauma, which then triggers a genetic predisposition for excess production of a compound called HPL, which causes nutrient deficiencies. Because food nutrients are needed for a lot of functions and processes in your body, a deficiency in more than one nutrient will cause many seemingly separate symptoms. Specific nutrient deficiencies cause symptoms which result in Pyrrole Disorder (PD).

Many GPs and doctors don't know about or recognise PD, as it just looks like you have a bunch of fairly common symptoms, including:

headaches and migraines
digestive complaints - constipation, reflux, bloating
poor tolerance to stress
depression and/or anxiety
sleep issues (can't get to sleep, or interrupted sleep)
poor immune system and lots of infections
allergies and intolerances to foods or environmental substances
sensitivity to light, sounds, tastes
and many more symptoms (as shown in the above picture).

You don't need to have all these symptoms, but having more increases the likelihood. When I see some or all of these symptoms together as I do in many clients, I look for the root causes for them all. I also use a screening questionnaire, analysis of pathology results, and specific pyrrole tests.

Pyrroles is nothing to be worried about! If anything it is great to have this diagnosis, as it is very easily treatable mainly with nutritional medicine! I've seen the condition in children as well as adults over 60 years of age, and it's always a relief to finally have an answer to their health issues!

Pyrroles causes nutritional deficiencies mainly in zinc and vitamin B6, but also of lesser deficiencies in other B-vitamins, magnesium, omega-6 fats and others. Multiple deficiencies lead to all of the symptoms above, and more.

Pyrroles is very frequently seen running in families across multiple generations. It is VERY common in those with Irish and Celtic family history, and the reasons for this are unknown.

Some research shows that PD itself is very commonly linked to, and probably even a cause of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, some autism disorders and other neurological and behavioural conditions.

If you recognise many of the above symptoms (in the picture) in yourself, your children, or other people you know, it would be a good idea to see if Pyrroles may be the cause! I have seen substantial reductions of symptoms with the nutritional medicine treatment for this condition! And those who have improved feel like they have their life (and health) back again!

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do you know what is in your sunscreen?

11/11/2017

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Apologies about the longer than usual article this time! But it's important.

Because I have been running a series of “Cancer Prevention” presentations around Brisbane for the past couple of months, as so happens in Facebook, you get adverts targeted to you! I got one from the Cancer Council for their “Cancer prevention for educators” talk in Brisbane, so being very sceptical and curious, I booked in!
I attended their talk recently. The first thing I noticed was a display of various unhealthy drinks at the front, and which they explained later, was to show the amount of sugar in each, as sugar contributes to weight gain they said. They ignored the main issue of sugar, that it directly causes and feeds cancer, or that it causes inflammation, heart disease, diabetes, and many other chronic health issues! None of that was mentioned.
And the ironic thing they missed was regarding the refreshments table at the back of the room – sugar-laden snacks of muffins and cakes… They just don’t get it do they?!
I expected the “same old” information, and yes that’s what I got. They said at the beginning that it would be evidence-based information. I thought otherwise, as you will see when you read some more of this article…
Their “prevention“ advice was pretty light, and a lot was missing. More troubling was that much of their advice was actually going to cause more cancer in many people.
On the topic of sun health, they want everyone to slather on sunscreens every 2 hours, wear sun protective clothing, wear tight-fitting and wrap-around sunglasses when outside ALL the time, and stay out of the sun ALL year around in Qld, because the UV light levels are allegedly too high and dangerous even in Winter!
They obviously didn’t read or know about my last article on the dangers of wearing sunglasses for prolonged periods – research shows that they block up to 98% of sunlight entering your eyes, but you need this to make your sleep hormone (melatonin), your feeling happy hormone (serotonin) which prevents depression and other mental health issues, and your protective skin pigment melanin, which prevents you burning more severely.
I asked the presenter if they were aware of the health implications of wearing sunglasses, which I summarised, and they said they were not!
I asked a question about the issue of getting enough vitamin D, due to the importance of maintaining good levels to improve health and prevent chronic disease. They said everyone should have enough vitamin D from just walking from their house to their car each day… really?! That’s nowhere near enough from the research I’ve read, and I’ve only seen 2 clients with healthy vitamin D levels in the past couple of years.
The topic of eating well came up, and of course they said to follow the government food guidelines, which we all know is a pile of brown smelly stuff, and is the reason why we are seeing so many chronic health conditions these days. They showed an example of a “good” kids lunch box, which was anything but. It also included a small plastic bottle of water. I commented that they should be informing people of the dangers of using plastic bottles, especially for children, and especially in summer – as the hotter the temperature is, the more hormone-disrupting and cancer-causing chemicals will leach from the plastic into the water. A cancer council representative said it was a good point, but they are just focusing on getting kids to just drink more water at the moment. Even if it’s toxic and cancer-causing?
There was a lot more which was not that exciting, and other bits which were shocking, but I will write about those in another article.
Lastly, I spared their embarrassment somewhat when I spoke to the speaker and her boss afterwards, to ask about what testing is done on sunscreens. They said they are tested by the TGA which uses the highest quality testing. Ok, I said, so how do you explain the 4 hormone-disrupting chemicals, 5 cancer-causing chemicals, and many other toxic ingredients in your own brand sunscreens? (See the info in the meme picture)
They looked a little surprised, but said they have faith in the TGA and their scientists who made it. I asked if they can look further into this, because the resources I used to check their ingredients is highly regarded.
I gave them a copy of the meme picture, and 2 pages of recent published research which contradicted their “advice” on sunscreens, skin cancer, sunglasses, and vitamin D.
I hope they look further into this, as they are supposed to provide “evidence-based” information to the public for preventing cancer. But on what I saw and heard in this presentation, they do neither.

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sunglasses are not good or healthy for you!

29/10/2017

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Sunglasses are a modern fashion item, but as is the case with many things in our modern lives, they aren't actually good or healthy for you!

In many published research articles, sunglasses have been shown to affect your sleep, cause depression and other mental health conditions (and maintain them), cause more severe sunburn (compared to not wearing them for the same duration in the sun), and contribute to many other health issues.

Sometimes something so minor and trivial as a nutrient deficiency, or just wearing sunglasses for a prolonged period, can have profound implications on your health and wellbeing! I personally had health issues from wearing sunglasses every day for years. It took me 6 months to figure out the cause of the issue - my new sunglasses. Within 3 days of not wearing sunglasses, my health issues disappeared and I've not had the problem since (as I've not worn sunglasses again)! I have helped many others with this same advice.

I'm not suggesting that you should go "cold turkey" as I did, as your eyes can be very sensitive to bright sunlight after years of frequent use of sunglasses. Gradually increase your "sunglass-free" time so your eyes get used to the brightness again and your sensitivity will decrease.

If you experience sleep issues or have mental health concerns, there's usually more than one cause of these issues, and while sunglasses can be a factor, other causes also need to be investigated and addressed - which is what I can help you with!

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stress, and nutrient deficiencies cause depression & anxiety

24/7/2017

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There have been a few times this year, and more in the past, when famous people have ended their lives by suicide, and another one I read about this week (Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington) prompted me to write this article. It’s sad when people resort to this, or see this as the only option for chronic depression.

There are always some causes of mental health issues like depression, anxiety and others. Actual stresses, or perceived (or believed) stresses can be a major cause. But something as simple as a deficiency in one or more nutrients can cause depression, anxiety or other mental health disorders. If the deficiency is not addressed, then chronic mental health issues can result. Specific nutrients are needed to make your brain cells, nerves, hormones, and neurotransmitters, all of which are required for good nervous system health, and therefore good mental health!

Stress, traumas and emotional issues can deplete the body of certain nutrients, causing a deficiency. Stress also affects digestive system function, and reduces the absorption of nutrients, again causing a deficiency, and more mental health issues in a vicious cycle. There are many other factors which can lead to mental health conditions, and usually someone will be affected by more than one of these factors.

In the treatment of any health condition, Naturopathy and Nutritional Medicine seeks to find the causes of the issues and then treats the causes. Nutrient deficiencies can be determined using various tests. Using nutritional changes, supplements or herbal medicines, nutrient deficiencies can quickly be reversed, and thus, restoring the body's ability to make new cells, hormones and neurotransmitters for good mental health and good overall health!

Unfortunately medications such as anti-depressants only focus on the symptoms, which will never improve the condition, and often makes it worse with their side effects. Antidepressant medications don't address the underlying nutrient deficiencies or help you to deal with the stressors which can cause mental health conditions.

If you, or someone you know has depression, anxiety or other mental health issue, please suggest that they talk to a counsellor from Mission Australia, Headspace, or the Black Dog Institute as quickly as possible. Please also let them know that there are other treatments available, and which focus on the root cause, for a much safer and longer-lasting treatment! I'd love to be able to help, as I have with others in the past!

If you are currently experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, please contact me for a personalised consultation to see what may be causing your symptoms.

A consultation will include a FREE health assessment, analysis of your diet, mineral deficiency test, metabolic rate test, recommended pathology tests and analysis of the results, and a personalised treatment plan!

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nutriENT deficiencies are A MAJOr cause of mental ILLNESS

15/10/2016

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It is Mental Health Awareness week! This means it is time to think about your mental health and that of your family and friends. Mental health conditions are not to be ashamed of, and a lot of the time it’s not your fault. But there are some simple causes and simple treatments which address these conditions.

As a Nutritionist and Naturopath, can anything be done for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, stress, and neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and others? Yes, there is a lot that I can do to help!
It used to be said that mental health conditions like depression were caused by an imbalance of hormones or chemicals in the brain. That is only partly true. But recent research shows that there are other things that cause these imbalances of hormones. Attempting to fix the imbalances with medications (ie, antidepressants and others) is futile and dangerous, because they do not actually address the root causes.
Your hormones are made from ingredients in your body. You make them every day from what you take in – from your FOOD! You know that some foods make you feel great with lots of energy, while other foods can make you feel sluggish, and giving you pains and digestive upsets. This is because your food becomes you, in the form of new cells and hormones every day! You can only have the best of mental and physical health when you provide your body with the right foods that YOUR body needs, as what might be right for someone else may not be right for you.
Research shows that various vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to mental health conditions. It can be as simple as that! But what may be lacking needs further investigation to find the right treatment for you. Taking an antidepressant is NOT going to address these deficiencies, but they attempt to make you feel better (that’s if they work for you at all), and all the while your body is getting sicker because it’s deficient in certain nutrients. And then there’s the side effects of the medications such as digestive conditions, weight gain, worsening depression and suicidal thoughts, and more. Does a doctor even look into the possibility of a nutritional deficiency causing depression, anxiety or any other "mental illness"? No, they don't! They aren't trained in nutrition or the effects it has on the body.
Your food intake isn’t the only cause for mental health conditions, as stress, digestive conditions, infections, medications and lifestyle factors can all play a part too. Hence to truly treat and resolve mental health conditions, you need to have a completely holistic treatment plan – which is what I do!
I also have a 1-hour mental health seminar that I have developed for corporations and community groups, to inform and empower people to better understand mental health conditions and how to improve your health holistically. Please let me know if you would like me to present this at your location.
If you or anyone you know has a mental health issue, I would be love to be able to help you! Please like and share this, so I may be able to help others with their mental health too!

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sleeping difficulties are no laughing matter

11/2/2016

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Getting a good nights sleep is not just something you need to recharge your batteries at the end of the day! Sleep is needed for:

1) Growth, particularly in children
2) Maintenance and repair of the body
3) Memory consolidation and learning
4) Detoxification and waste processing
and other purposes too!

Sleep difficulties are no laughing matter for people who can't sleep well. Symptoms of poor sleep include:

1) Difficulty getting to sleep
2) Waking during the night
3) Waking up tired
4) Poor concentration and memory
5) Poor immune system function and frequent infections
6) Depression
7) Weight gain.

There can be many reasons or causes for you not sleeping well, and can include dietary, environmental, lifestyle, stress and other factors. I have a range of options to help you sleep better, as it is something that I had difficulty with for a while too. Improving your sleep can make a huge difference to your health, your life and how you feel!

If sleep difficulties are a problem for you (or someone you know), please contact me!

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holistic treatment works to clear acne in 4 weeks!

10/2/2016

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Being (or having) a teenager can be a challenge with the physical changes occurring, and the effect this has on teenagers' mental and emotional health. The last thing that a teenager needs on top of these changes, and the stresses at school, is the physical and emotional complications of acne!

Call them zits, pimples, or spots, these can be seen to be the worst thing in the world, and come at the worst time in life - just when teens are finding out about themselves, their changing bodies and taking an interest in potential boyfriends or girlfriends!

The physical signs of acne are obvious, and can range from just one or two at a time to a severe outbreak on the face, neck, chest and back that can result in cysts and life-long scarring. The mental, emotional and social aspects of health can be severely affected too, with acne generally being perceived as worse than it really is, and thus affecting one's confidence and self-esteem, and this can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues that can last a long time.

I recently had an adult client who had a sudden onset of acne which was very unusual for her. She was very depressed about her looks and had isolated herself away for months from her studies and friends. She went down the medical path - GPs and 3 dermatologists, who all recommended Roaccutane (a very strong medication for severe cystic acne, which hers wasn't) so she took for 3 weeks until the side effects were too much to handle. In that time though, the acne worsened instead of getting better. She refused to take any more of this drug, and saw her dermatologist again, who prescribed antibiotics and a topical cream instead. Again these medications made the acne worse, and now spread to all over her chest. She was very depressed and almost suicidal.

In desperation, she contacted me to see how I could help. 2 weeks later her skin was much improved and 2 more weeks later her skin was completely clear from any acne! I knew the treatment plan would work, but was surprised how quickly it cleared!

The medical treatment from the doctors didn't work because it didn't address her causes, and didn't address her body or her unique circumstances. I treated her hole body on many different aspects of her health (physical, mental, emotional and environmental), which included dietary changes/substitutions, lifestyle improvements and some short-term nutritional supplementation to help with the healing process.

Contrary to some old research, your diet does play a role in acne, but it's not the only thing, which is why I take a holistic (whole body) approach to treating acne, or any other health condition.

This client is now no longer depressed or suicidal, has a much better diet and lifestyle, and has resumed her studies and social activities again! This is a huge turnaround in about 4 weeks!

If you know a teenager or adult with acne or other skin condition, please refer them to see me! I've personally been through it too and I know what it's like, which is why I would like to help others and avoid the issues I had with acne too.

Chest acne before my treatment (after medical treatment which made the acne worse)

Facial acne improving after 2 weeks of my treatment.

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mental health improved by nutrition & lifestyle changes!

21/11/2015

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I have just finished putting together a new seminar on "Nutrition and lifestyle improvements for mental health", about some very simple steps to preventing and reversing/treating mental health conditions using good nutrition and some lifestyle improvements! I look forward to presenting this seminar at a mental health community group next week!

In the 1960s it was thought mental illness was due to an imbalance of chemicals, neurotransmitters or hormones in the brain. More recent research suggests that this is not entirely true! What is known is the simple deficiencies in many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, from a poor diet, actually cause or exacerbate hormone imbalances. Together with poor digestion, low absorption and many other lifestyle and environmental factors, this can result in many mental health conditions.

The following are just some of the nutritional deficiencies and their associated mental health symptoms:

Vitamin B1 - Apathy, memory problems, confusion, irritability
Vitamin B3 - Apathy, fatigue, poor memory, dementia
Vitamin B5 - Apathy, fatigue, neurological disturbances, insomnia, depression, irritability
Vitamin B6 - Depression, confusion, abnormal brain wave patterns, convulsions
Vitamin B7 - Depression, lethargy, hallucinations
Vitamin B12 - Fatigue, impaired memory, low intelligence, nerve damage
Vitamin C - Hysteria, depression
Vitamin D - Low mood, Winter blues (Seasonal Affective Disorder), depression
And there's more too!

Does a doctor even look into the possibility of a nutritional deficiency causing depression, anxiety or any other "mental illness"? No, they don't! They aren't trained in nutrition or the effects it has on the body. They just prescribe a medication that does not address the cause of the problem, and this leads to deficiencies becoming more chronic and serious, more side effects, and needing more medication... and on it goes...

I'm not suggesting that popping a multivitamin will fix depression! Any treatment, especially with mental health, needs a holistic (whole body) approach - that also takes into account someone's emotional health, physical health, environmental health, lifestyle and other aspects. But mental health conditions CAN be successfully treated with very simple nutritional improvements, supplements if needed and some lifestyle changes, as well as other treatments in my holistic 6-point plan!

My new 1-hour "Nutrition and lifestyle improvements for mental health" seminar is now available for your corporate, team or community group! I have several other seminars available on other health and nutrition topics, and I would love to be able to share this information to more people!

Alternatively, if you know anyone with a mental health issue, I would be grateful if you were to like and share this, so I may be able to help others too!

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sunglasses can cause sleep problems, depression, and more!

Zinc deficiency linked to autism

What is Pyrrole Disorder?

do you know what is in your sunscreen?

sunglasses are not good or healthy for you!

stress, and nutrient deficiencies cause depression & anxiety

nutriENT deficiencies are A MAJOr cause of mental ILLNESS

sleeping difficulties are no laughing matter

holistic treatment works to clear acne in 4 weeks!

mental health improved by nutrition & lifestyle changes!

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