"mood" news and stories

It looks like you can have your chocolate molecule and wear it, too. This t-shirt has the representation of the molecular structure of theobromine, the ingredient in chocolate that acts as a mood elevator and stimulant and helps to make chocolate so popular. Unlike the chocolate molecule we looked at before, this particular form of chocolate has no calories and is a more technical and more accurate representation of a chocolate molecule than the elegantly artistic truffle version.

Theobromine, by the way, is found in cacao, so dark chocolate has more of it than milk chocolate. Although it is a stimulant, its mood-elevating effects have been shown to be mild and long-lasting, unlike the rush that is usually associated with caffeine, a stimulant with which theobromine is often confused.

So because this tee is packed with theobromine, although it lacks cacao, you might just get a mood boost from wearing it - especially if you get the occasional rush from being just a little bit geeky (Not that there's anything wrong with that!).

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The fatty acid Omega-3 has been the topic of discussion ranging from a treatment for prostate cancer to treatment of mood disorders. Although numerous wide-reaching studies have shown positive and negligible results, grants for studies and participants roll on.

Why? It has been proven that Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly as found in fish like mackerel (highest content/weight ratio) and salmon, prevent and aid those who have cardiovascular disease. When you start throwing the human heart into the fray of what's good for it, and there's a compound isolated proven to help keep it healthy, there will be no shortage of interest. What's good for the heart may good for all the heart supports: the brain, the rest of the vital organs, the health of our blood itself.

The problem with relying on fish for our daily intake of Omega-3 is that today's fish have much higher levels of mercury than those that our ancestors ate. So, where can you get your Omega-3?

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Research from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center suggests that levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, commonly found in fish, may have effects on depression levels, personality and behavior. A recent study examined the blood levels of omega-3s in 106 healthy volunteers and found that those with lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids were more likely to be impulsive, have a negative outlook and report mild or moderate depression. The results were based on "three accepted tests for depression, impulsiveness and personality," according to a UPMC press release. The release also reminds that the American Heart Association recommends two servings of fish per week.