Cell Phone Syndrome

Cell-Phone Syndrome

And the Other High-Tech Distractions, Compulsions, Anxieties, Pressures,

and Stresses We Face Every Day of the Year

Jumpy Jessica couldn't do just one thing at a time. Behind the wheel, she'd be pressing buttons for better music on her radio or CD player, sipping a soft drink, text messaging, or dialing various friends on her cell phone. Multitasking? No way. Jessica had become addicted to impulsive habits and was practically hyper.

Meanwhile, raging Ron was totally stressed from work, and it wasn't even 10 a.m. As usual, he had skipped breakfast and was sipping coffee between business calls on his cell phone. After running a red light, he found himself stuck behind Jessica—and he could see the silhouette of her hand up to her ear. Of course, she was crawling below the speed limit. Ron leaned on his horn, stepped on the gas, and sped around her—holding up his coffee cup and middle finger.

Just another day.

We may not behave exactly like Jessica and Ron, but we see people like them every day. The truth is that most of us are stressed as hell. So what gives?

Incredible as it might sound, a lot of today's bad moods and distracted behavior result from the stresses of modern life combined with a unique set of nutritional deficiencies and imbalances.

Neuronutrients and Neurotransmitters

What's nutrition got to do with moods and behavior? It's simple, really. The foods we eat supply the chemical building blocks for brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps us feel relaxed, is built around tryptophan, an amino acid and component of protein. To convert tryptophan to serotonin, we need ample vitamin B6 along with some vitamin B3 and C.

But when we're stressed, even the best eating habits go out the window. We skip meals, snack on candy bars, or head to the nearest fast-food restaurant. Those foods don't provide the brain nutrients we need, and low levels of these nutrients reduce the body's production of serotonin. As serotonin levels go down, we're more likely to feel anxious, panicky, depressed, irritable, or angry.

Low levels of GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid), another calming neurotransmitter, have a similar effect. GABA works by filtering out background noise in the brain, helping us ignore distractions and maintain a clearer focus. GABA's foundation is the amino acid glutamate. To make GABA, the body needs the amino acids taurine and theanine, magnesium, and vitamins B6, B3, and B12. Green tea is particularly rich in theanine, which is probably why it is so relaxing.

Stress and Blood Sugar Swings

When we're stressed, we quickly use up these mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters, allowing more stimulating neurotransmitters (such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine) to dominate. While necessary, high prolonged levels of "excitatory" neurotransmitters increase moodiness and feelings of being jittery or anxious.

Then there's the blood-sugar rollercoaster. Blood sugar, or glucose, is the brain's principal fuel source. Its ideal level falls within a fairly narrow range, but many people's eating habits lead to extreme blood-sugar swings. For example, foods high in sugars and refined carbs—think soft drinks, breakfast bars, sweets, pastas, and pizzas—shoot up glucose levels. Very high glucose levels lead to fuzzy thinking and poor concentration. Very low glucose levels triggers hunger and irritability—for many people, just as they head into the afternoon rush hour.

Balancing Your Brain

How do you balance your brain? Consider taking one or two brain nutrients, which can quickly boost levels of brain-calming neurotransmitters. Among the best are:

• B-complex vitamins. Vitamin B6 and B12, along with folic acid, are needed to make serotonin, GABA, and many other neurotransmitters.

• Vitamin C. This antioxidant helps modulate excitatory neurotransmitters, and feeling irritable and tired are early signs of vitamin C deficiency.

• Omega-3s. Found in fish oils, the omega-3s can reduce impulsive behavior.

• Chromium picolinate. This nutrient can reduce depression and overeating.

• GABA. This amino acid and neurotransmitter helps increases a sense of calm by filtering out distractions.

• L-theanine. This amino acid, found in green tea, raises GABA levels.

• 5-HTP. A form of tryptophan, 5-HTP is quickly converted to serotonin.

Finally, cut back on foods rich in sugars and refined carbs. Replace them with higher protein meals and veggies. That will increase the brain nutrients in your diet and stabilize your blood sugar.

References

Leventhal AG, Wang Y, Pu M, et al. GABA and its antagonists improved visual cortical function in senescent monkeys. Science, 2003;300:812-815.

Cox DJ, Kovatchev BP, Gonder-Frederick LA, et al. Relationships between hyperglycemia and cognitive performance among adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 2005;28:71-77.

Smythies JR. The role of ascorbate in brain: therapeutic implications. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1996;89:241.

Hallahan B, Garland MR. Essential fatty acids and their role in the treatment of impulsivity disorders. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 2004;71:211-216.

McLeod MN, Gaynes BN, Golden RN. Chromium potentiation of antidepressant pharmacology for dysthymic disorder in 5 patients. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 1999;60:237-240.