Episode 4: Amino Acids – Part 2 – Catecholamines
Welcome back! Amino Acids, Part 2 CAT-E-KOL-A-MEENS - I pronounced that incorrectly in the last episode. I thought the ending was pronounced MEEN versus MINE but I doubted myself and checked a dictionary which mislead me! I’m getting it right… eventually! That’s the goal, yes?
If you are listening to this out of order, I am relaying some amazing information I came across in three books written by Julia Ross. A clinical psychologist that has been practicing since the 70’s in the U.S. with particular focus on nutrition deficient problems of people with addiction and food issues. One book in particular, I am citing here often, is the Mood Cure, 2012 edition. In the book and in real life, we must emphasize that being supervised by a good functional medical practitioner is necessary for safe and optimal results.
Back to the catecholamines. What difference could they make in your life? Well, are you the kind of person that never seems to get enough sleep? You have trouble dragging yourself out of bed. You have problems with energy, with the ability to focus, not to mention follow through to get things done? When you read, you find yourself rereading paragraphs because your brain wanders. Your CAT levels maybe too low… Are you are accused of being “apathethic” – that NOT pathetic, but lacking in any enthusiasm while others seem so stoked about the same thing… You are perpetually exhausted and seem to becoming more of an introvert? Avoiding social gatherings larger than 2 people, and your one of them? Or perhaps you were always an introvert and wondered, why me? Why can’t I go out and schmooze and make small talk, like my friends? In her book, Julia Ross believes that the extent to which you are extroverted or introverted likely depends on how much catecholamine activity your brain is producing. That means a change in your biochemistry, can result in a chattier, more outgoing you!
Intrigued? What’s is a CATECHOLAMINE exactly? Catecholamines, or as Julia Ross refers to them, simply as the “CATS” – is a family of vitalizing brain chemicals led by DOPAMINE (the parent of the other CAT’s), NOREPINEPHRINE and ADRENALINE. Most of us have heard of adrenaline – the fight or flight chemical that helps us spare out life in the face of danger – either real, or perceived. They are actually, all part of a defence mechanism designed to make you alert, sharp and focused for the immediate challenge ahead – mentally, physically and emotionally. Your ability to focus on the problem at hand, your brains ability to make quick decisions and your body’s need to be able to move strongly and forcefully to dealt with the sudden “problem” you are presented with – was an essential survival mechanism.
What causes us to be “short” on CATS?
For a lot of people, it is their genetic predisposition. They have an altered gene that misprograms production of the “parent” CAT – DOPAMINE. This predisposition often results in substance abuse – food, alcohol and drugs. And it will run in families. Addicts are prone to have children that are addicts. However, and very importantly, you can override this gene by with with nutritional supplements! Biochemistry can be altered, without surgery, without long drawn out processes and procedure (at least for some people!).
Another reason we have under productive CATS, too much stress. Can anyone relate especially during these last couple of years? Threats to health and emotional well being, were constant for some people. There are limits to how any CATS your brain and adrenal glands can produce at one time. This depletion often occurs in military battle conditions, where there is stress and fear 24/7 for prolonged periods of time. Although some people are in jobs or personal situations that also put them in that state – 24/7, without a reprieve in sight.
Low calorie or low protein diets will stress the body and cause CAT depleting. Within 2 weeks of starting a very restrictive diet, CAT feeding aminos can drop so low that the CAT levels are cut in half! Only 2% of the amino Tyrosine usually make their way to the brain in normal situations, this is reduced substantially when dieting. More bad moods. No wonder people have trouble staying on those diets. Their bodies start shouting – feed me!!!
When the catecholamines are low, the body is craving coffee and chocolate. In bodies where CAT levels are low, the substances that typically act as “downers”, tobacco, alcohol and marijuana, instead act like “uppers”. People will do anything to get that “lift” they need to function. Another reason cocaine and amphetamine use is rampant. Both increase CAT levels by 1400 percent. However, the effects are short lived. The drugs stop working over time because the brain can’t produce enough CATS to meet the relentless demand. The depression that follows withdrawal, drags on for quite a while. This drives 90% of the drug users back into their drug use. They just can’t bear it.
Modern medicine answers the call with drugs like Wellbutrin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Ritalin. According to Julia Ross and Kenneth Blum, great results can be obtained using nutrients to help boost CAT levels. Nutratherapy calls in the aid of amino acid named TYROSINE. Studies at the Masssachusetts Institute of Technology demonstrated that tyrosine supplementation could increase CATS dramatically. Other studies showed amazing results taking TYROSINE had, to combat stress, as an anti-depressant and for concentration and mental focus. And, it only take 10-15 minutes for the this amino supplement to reach the brain and start turning on all the “lights in body house”! Kenneth Blum, in his studies reported 40% of addicts, especially cocaine addicts, were so depressed they dropped out of treatment during the first few weeks. With the aid of tyrosine and other supplements, he was able to reduce the drop out rate to just 4%. Unimaginable before this nutritherapy “aid”.
Tyrosine also plays a few other roles including pleasure promoting chemicals – the “enkephalins” that contribute to an overall sense of well being.
ADD – attention deficit disorder – is a condition whereby the CATS are asleep. Wake them up with TYROSINE and gain focus and brain power to plough through the work ahead of you! Dr. Ross quotes Dr. Daniel Amen of the Amen Brain Clinics in the US. He is an expert in ADD and ADHD and has written extensively about how the brain works, and how and why sometimes it doesn’t. His books are also readily available on Amazon etc. His says that prescription drugs can also be used with tyrosine if the tyrosine is not enough.
If your thyroid or sex hormones – estrogen, progesterone, testosterone - are out of whack – you will have set those straight before you can really find easy fixes for your CAT problems.
Don’t push yourself to exercise if you are feeling tired and overwhelmed. You are stressing out your body even more.
So let’s recap and talk about the solutions:
Level I – The MAGIC FIX
Always consult a medical practitioner for personal advice. Always check for contraindications (things you are already doing or taking that will react badly with tyrosine).
Tyrosine – 500 mg tablets
Take 1 as soon as you wake up
Take one mid morning
Take one in the afternoon. Be careful if you don’t want to have sleep issues, not to take it too late in the afternoon. I personally like to take it later when I have CAT issues AND I have lots of work to do after dinner! Plough right through it!
Increase up to 3 pills per time if you are not getting results with the one. However, taking too much can make you jittery and give you high blood pressure. You only have to take these until your body starts making its own. Anywhere from 3 months to 12 months. After each bottle, stop and assess – are you sailing on OK without, or do you need another bottle?
If Tyrosine doesn’t seem to be helping, another amino PHENYLALINE can be the answer as an instead or an in addition to.
SAM-e, according to Dr. Julia Ross, “is world-famous for its pro-cat antidepressant effects…This crucial natural chemical is used throughout the body and brain and tends to be too low in some people – for example, in those who have used stimulant drugs. Add 800 to 1,600 milligrams of SAM-e per day, if tyrosine, the omega-3s and dietary protein don’t perk you up in a week or two.”
Omega 3 – the brain is 60% fat! Good fat helps with depression and improves concentration quickly.
Vitamin D – is actually a hormone that converts tyrosine to CATS
Grape seed extract – encourages CAT activity in the brain and can be helpful with focus and concentration problems.
Level II – Support the MAGIC FIX
Support the body processes with vitamins and nutrients like Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Calcium and Magnesium.
Eat high protein foods, like eggs, salmon, cottage cheese
Level III – Maintain the MAGIC FIX forever….
Avoid foods that hinder good CAT development: sugary sweets, starchy carbs
Reduce or eliminate caffeine – it raises mood but brings it crashing down later
Exercise!
Reduce stress
Check out Dr Julia Ross’s website: https://www.juliarosscures.com
Where you can take a mood test to see which of the four mood regulators you need help with! Or book an online virtual clinic appointment!
For more in depth information, please see all three books written by Dr. Julia Ross – all available wherever you buy books like Amazon
Ross, Julia. The Mood Cure. 2002. Penquin Books, New York, New York
Ross, Julia. The Cravings Cure. 2017. Flatiron Books, New York, New York
Ross, Julia: The Diet Cure. 2012. Penguin Books, New York, New York