Hey, it’s Christine.

In today’s issue:

• What is depression, really?

• Why Dr Josef says, “Don’t tell your doctor you’re depressed”

• Is diet the cure for depression?

• Tips to elevate your mood

• Surprising statistics

• Inspiration from Hippocrates

• Exclusive 20% OFF code from our sponsor Obvita Organics

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PILLAR SPOTLIGHT

Rethink Your Diagnosis. Reclaim Your Radiance.

Okay, glow seekers, let’s dive into this week’s pillars: Trust and Nutrition.

What if what you feed your body is quietly feeding your thoughts?

This week, we open the conversation around depression—not as a defect or a disorder, but as a signal. Could what we call mental illness be, in part, a metabolic response to modern living? And what if, in tending to our nutrition, we nurture our mind and glow from the inside out?

Depression affects millions. Yet we’re rarely invited to ask: what if this sadness, this fog, this fatigue is not a chemical defect, but a natural response to imbalance?

The Myth of the Broken Brain

Dr. Josef, a board-certified psychiatrist, opens his video with an unexpected warning: “Don’t tell your doctor you’re depressed.” Not because you shouldn’t seek support, but because once that label is applied, treatment often begins and ends with medication—without exploring root causes.

Diagnosis is based on checklists, not lab tests. Five out of nine symptoms, and you may be prescribed an antidepressant. Yet many patients never receive a nutritional assessment, gut health screen, or toxin check. According to Dr. Josef, this oversimplified model often overlooks deeper imbalances in lifestyle, stress, digestion, and diet.

Could It Be Metabolic?

Dr. Chris Palmer, psychiatrist and Harvard professor, has spent years studying the link between mitochondria (our cells' energy engines) and mental health. He proposes that many cases of depression may be rooted in metabolic dysfunction. His clinical experience shows that dietary interventions—especially ketogenic or low-glycemic diets—can produce profound improvements in mood, sleep, and clarity.

In one case, a woman who had been depressed and suicidal for five years became vibrant and energized after four weeks on a ketogenic protocol. It wasn’t just the brain that changed—it was the body’s ability to process energy.

Why Diet Matters for Mental Clarity (and Skin Clarity)

Dr. Josef and Dr. Palmer both highlight the hidden culprits:

• High-refined carbs and sugars causing insulin spikes, crashes, and fatigue

• Seed oils (like canola and soybean) triggering inflammation and oxidative stress

• Food sensitivities (such as gluten) leading to gut permeability and nutrient malabsorption

These aren’t just theories. Its the latest science. And it aligns with the NEW SMART pillars of natural health and beauty. When inflammation is high and nutrients are low, the skin may appear dull, reactive, or prematurely aged. And the mind? Foggy, flat, anxious.

Trusting your body means listening to these signs. It means questioning whether fatigue and low mood might be signals of deeper imbalance, not defects to suppress.

For more, watch this video by Dr. Josef Don't Tell Your Doctor You Are Depressed: Here's Why

Sources available upon request

GLOW TIP

Nourish Your Mood, Support Your Skin

Feeling foggy or fatigued?

• Try a three-day refresh: cut out sugar, gluten, and seed oils. Add in leafy greens, wild salmon, avocado oil, and mineral-rich sea salt.

• Try breathing in citrus essential oils like orange, bergamot, and neroli which are clinically shown to stimulate dopamine and serotonin pathways naturally.

• Try giving yourself a splash of cold water. It stimulates the vagus nerve and boosts alertness, often lifting mood within minutes while energizing your skin and spirit.

Observe your energy, sleep, and yes—your glow. Sometimes, simplicity is the most powerful remedy.

SURPRISING STAT

• 23% to 45% of people don’t respond to SSRIs like Prozac

• 5% of the global population experiences major depression

• 26% higher risk of depression is linked to seed oils—premature skin aging too

QUOTE OF THE DAY

The information in Glow by Calla Skin is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Christine is a licensed spa professional in Florida and New York State, not a doctor. Always consult a healthcare professional before making health-related decisions.