Cure depression with a good diet

by RubyTuesday 28 Replies latest watchtower medical

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  RubyTuesday

  Depression Relief Diet Sue Gilbert, M.S.

  If it sometimes seems that food is the only thing that will make you feel better, it's not just in your head. Food does affect your mood, and what you eat -- and when -- can impact depression. If you're trying to beat the blues, here's how the Depression Relief Diet can help:

  ? Sugar and caffeine give you a quick lift -- but can leave you feeling down when their effects wear off. This meal plan reduces sugar and caffeine intake because feelings of depression often improve when their consumption is minimized.

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  ? Because deficient levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the nervous system make you more vulnerable to depression, this meal plan includes plenty of fish and other rich sources of omega-3s.

  ? Even marginal vitamin deficiencies that don't result in clinical symptoms can negatively affect your mood. This diet, when paired with a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement, will help ensure adequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals (especially the B vitamins and folic acid, vitamin D, iron, magnesium, selenium, zinc and calcium).

  ? Steady blood sugar levels help keep you on an even keel. This meal plan includes complex carbohydrates in every meal and encourages eating small meals spaced evenly throughout the day to help normalize blood sugar levels.
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  patio34

  Hi Ruby, I've noticed this effect in myself for a couple of years now and have altered my eating a lot! Thanks for the further information! Pat
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  darkuncle29

  Thanks for sharing. This is an important piece of the puzzle. Any single solution is not a cure in itself, ie;diet,exercise,brain chemistry,emotional health. But taken all together they are supportive. For me it was a long down-ward spiral. After a few years of Dr.s not really helping any, I realized that my recovery was up to me. I had to choose to get better, and figure out how to get better. I saw that it was an up-ward spiral.

  Peace
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  ChristianObserver

  Hey Ruby

  Thanks for the information.

  One thing though, I think the ad above cut out some essential words. At least I couldn't see them on the page, but when I clicked "Reply", the words "deficient levels of" appears above this statement!

  omega-3 fatty acids in the nervous system make you more vulnerable to depression, this meal plan includes plenty of fish and other rich sources of omega-3s.

  It is the lack of them that they consider makes you more vulnerable to depression.

  I don't know if anyone else can't see those words or whether you can edit to make sure they appear?

  It should read

  ? Because deficient levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the nervous system make you more vulnerable to depression, this meal plan includes plenty of fish and other rich sources of omega-3s.

  For those interested who are allergic to fish or do not like fish, but who want to increase their omega 3 intake, another source is linseed/flaxseed oil. But make sure you purchase the variety that is for human consumption and not the one produced for treating cricket bats.
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  RubyTuesday

  Thank you for all your responses.Thanks for pointing that out Christian.

  Here is the link http://www.ivillagehealth.com/features/eatforwellness/articles/0%2C11299%2C411884_412896%2C00.html

  Here is an excellent link that might help you to find out what vitamins you may be lacking and what foods or drinks are making you feel bad.

  http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/Depression/dep_nutrition.htm#Drink

  My main problem was....I was drinking too much coffee...once I cut that down...and started eating better....the results were amazing.

  "Depression can result from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), a condition characterized by fluctuating emotions from extreme highs to extreme lows. Hypoglycemia is caused by too much sugar in the diet. To balance this extreme surge of blood sugar the pancreas overproduces insulin. This drastically lowers the blood sugar level, causing fatigue, depression, and anxiety .

  If you suffer from hypoglycemia, avoid sugar, alcohol, coffee, and fruits with a high sugar content. Fresh vegetables, whole grains, miso soup, sprouts, and seaweed are excellent foods that balance the above substances."
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  shamus

  I quit drinking caffene, and I felt a lot better. It overexcites your adrenal gland, which is more overexcited as it is, and leads to depression. Or one cause of it...
  I also take Niacin and Zinc every day. Most depressed persons are lacking in these two important items. It has helped totally.
  You need to eat as SOON as you get up! Have a glass of juice, and then do your thing... shower, whatever. Then EAT RIGHT AWAY. Your blood sugar needs to be brought back up now. I never used to eat breakfast.
  Yes, if you have a bad diet, you will feel bad. Don't eat sweets. Only have them as a "dessert" right after your meal. Don't wait. Sweets go down better with a meal, as opposed to several hours later. Don't use them as a snack between meals. Very very bad for a depressed person. You will feel better at first, but not for long.
  Eat carbo's. Crackers work great between meals. SNACK, if you need to. Your body is craving energy.
  I have suffered from depression since 7, and this has helped me. Check out this website.
  http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/
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  Billygoat

  I've noticed the same thing. When my diet is high in sugar (which it was for many years!) I struggle with depression even though everything is really going well. I try to cut down my sugars and other carbs (I don't eat ANYTHING with flour since I'm gluten intolerant) and I really feel great. I also feel better when I don't drink too much. I wasn't worried so much about the alcohol, but that alcohol slows the metabolism drastically.
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  patio34

  Actually, since what you eat is easier than analysis, it should be the very 1st thing to try, doesn't it seem? That and an exercise program, then deeper into analysis, etc., if there's no relief. Or, all three together.

  Patio
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  Eyebrow2

  Chocolate always cures my depression for about 20 minutes hahaha....

  a good diet and excercise certainly can help, but for serious depression that is not often enough, and in fact, some with serious depression are not even going to recognize or care that they need to eat better or excercise.
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  alias

  Ruby,

  Thanks for the information. Without a doubt diet plays an extremely important role for balancing our bodies. Unfortunately for some, diet alone deesn't override a chemical imbalance where medication might be necessary.

  Definiately good reminders about proper nutrition, exercise, and rest.

  alias