In recent years, gamification has risen as a groundbreaking strategy to enhance mental health treatments and boost patient engagement. Gamification’s roots date back to games like Dance Dance Revolution in 1998, which intertwined physical activity with gaming fun. Today, an array of games and apps like Nike+ and SuperBetter are designed not just for physical …
Exercise has emerged as an effective treatment for depression, rivaling medication and psychotherapy in its ability to reduce symptoms. Both aerobic and resistance training provide mental health benefits, with a combination of the two being optimal. However, exercise is vastly underutilized and more research is needed to uncover the mechanisms behind its antidepressant effects. Highlights: …
Magnesium is regarded as an essential mineral for humans and functions as a cofactor in upwards of 300 biochemical processes throughout the body. For example, magnesium is implicated in: ATP production, blood pressure regulation, bone development, glucose modulation, heart rhythm normalization, muscle and nerve function, plus protein synthesis. Knowing that magnesium is essential for optimal …
Niacin (vitamin B3), also referred to as nicotinic acid, is a human nutrient that functions as a precursor to NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). NAD is a coenzyme recognized for its involvement in the catabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, as well as sending signals for DNA repair. NADP is …
Niacin (vitamin B3) is a colorless hydrophilic organic compound classified as an essential dietary nutrient among humans. Foods highest in niacin include: organ meat (liver, heart, kidneys), chicken, beef, fish, venison, and whole grains. For human adults, the daily recommended allowance of niacin falls within the range of 12 mg to 16 mg per day, …
Hyperthermia is defined as supraphysiological body temperature resulting from absorption and/or production of more heat than is dispelled. Medically, local hyperthermia is often used as an adjunct to radiation and/or chemotherapy for the treatment of cancers. It is thought that deliberate induction of hyperthermia to a cancerous region of the body increases the sensitivity of …
Acupuncture is a form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in which a practitioner (acupuncturist) stimulates the skin of his/her client transcutaneously [with needles] or transdermally [with electrical pulses or lasers]. According to proponents of traditional Chinese medicine, the precise stimulation of sites across the skin (referred to as “acupuncture points”) modulates the flow of energy …