Foods for Depression

<<< Back to Facts About Nutrition Facts About Nutrition and Foods for Depression Today, the relationship between how one feels, both mentally and physically, and the link between foods and depression is becoming increasingly apparent. Your diet can affect your mind and your moods so a good healthy diet will also assist in helping with your depression.  You will begin to feel better and have more energy to do the things you enjoy.  When you are lacking in some vitamins and minerals, this can also contribute to your moods so it is important to make sure that you are eating a healthy, balanced diet…
Foods for Depression The Links Between Foods and Depression Check your protein intake as too much or too little protein can cause mental depression.  To test this, eat only plant protein for at least 2 months - although you could find a change sooner.  Take approximately 1/3 of a cup of nuts or seeds daily.  Avoid cheese, meat and fish.  The odd egg here or there should be OK. The amino acid tryptophan improves one’s feeling of well-being and is found in alfalfa sprouts, beets, carrots, celery, green beans, turnips and bananas.  Eat these in their raw state on an empty stomach.  Beets and turnips can be finely grated to make them more palatable but be aware that in some people the turnip can have a negative effect on the emotions due to other factors in the turnip’s make up. Magnesium deficiency is another thing that can cause depression.  Poor quality soil, artificial fertilisers, preserving, freezing and cooking all deprive our food of magnesium.  However, if one is eating a lot of raw plant food, one still gets sufficient magnesium and there is no need for supplementation - which can upset the balance of other vitamins and minerals, regardless of what their manufacturers say.  Lack of oxygen to the brain and body cells can cause depression.  Iron is required for this vital function so it is worth noting how iron reacts to other substances.  Tannin tends to bind iron, so a cup of tea may not be the best way to finish off a meal.  However, vitamin C promotes the absorption of iron in the stomach.  Fresh fruit is rich in both iron and vitamin C.  Beware of eating a great deal of spinach, rhubarb or beet greens, for although rich in iron, they also contain oxalic acid, which destroys iron.   Almost all medications rob the body of vitamins and minerals, easily creating an iron deficiency.  Dulse and hijiki (both seaweed), poppy, pumpkin and squash seeds are exceptionally high in iron.  Kale, mushrooms, parsley, soya and yeast are also excellent.  In dried form, apricots, currants and pears are a good source, but do beware of any chemical additives on the dried fruit.  For maximum iron benefit, increase your vitamin C consumption by eating at least one item of fresh fruit before each meal. The more easily absorbed iron in food tends to shorten shelf life, so ‘Iron Enriched’ products contain an iron that is barely absorbable at all.  Phosphates and certain preservatives further reduce the value of iron intake.  Phosphates are generally found in cool drinks, sweets, ice cream, beer and ale, bread and cakes. The finest foods are naturally sweet.  The human taste buds enjoy the sweetness of good nourishing foods and it is not by coincidence that the sweetest are the most nourishing.  Fruit, just ripe, is the champagne of foods - pleasing to the eye, has a wonderful aroma, tastes delicious and has a balance that is just right for the human body.  It is in direct response to this leaning that the sugar cane industry developed.  Unfortunately, the damage that refined sugar wreaks is untold - it is a deception of the senses leading directly down a path of destruction – avoid it!  Fresh glorious fruit, bountifully rich in goodness is a true food and the people feasting on it have a far superior lifestyle to those who do not. Foods for Depression... Can Vitamins Help with Depression? There are thousands of people worldwide who suffer from depression.  Symptoms include being constantly sad, feeling down, tiredness, irritability, lack of interest in activities and more.  Depression can be brought on following stressful or traumatic times or from a chemical imbalance.  In some cases, vitamin deficiency could be a contributing factor for depression and in these cases an intake of certain vitamins could assist in the recovery process. A change of lifestyle is always a good step in the right direction for depression recovery.  By changing to a healthy diet, adding some exercise into your life and even taking some vitamin supplements for those that you might be lacking, can all make a big difference in your mood and thoughts and each of these changes can help in your road to recovery. Some studies have shown that if a person has a vitamin deficiency it can affect the person’s mood.  If you suffer from depression or any mood disorder then your vitamin intake is one thing to take a look at and if you think you are not receiving enough vitamins then try to increase your intake through your diet or take a vitamin supplement.	Site Navigation     Featured Pages Facts About Nutrition Acne and Foods Food for Anxiety Skin Disorders Diet and Asthma Food and Aggression Alzheimer's Disease Anaemia Foods Diet for AIDS Foods for Arthritis Stress and Food Diet for High Blood Pressure Contact Us Privacy Policy Site Map Terms of Use Disclaimer   Really Useful Websites Stop Asthma Stop Acne Stop Panic Attacks Why Organic Food? 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Foods for Depression... B is for Blues Vitamin B is a group of approximately 17 in number. They can be destroyed by refined sugar, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, strenuous exercise, stress and almost all forms of medication, smoking, coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, processed foods (e.g., white flour) and heat - so enjoy your plant foods in their raw state to maximise your vitamin B intake and leave the aforementioned items out of your lifestyle.  Check with your doctor and your chemist before taking any drugs as almost all forms of medication rob the body of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B complex.  To single out any one B vitamin can lead to an imbalance and when we look at natural sources, we find that where there is one B vitamin, most, if not all of the group, will be in that plant.  The B vitamins are abundantly found in whole grains, bran, brewer’s yeast, sprouting seeds, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes (although lost in cooking), apricots, wheat germ, egg yolk, legumes.  Take a handful of mixed dried fruit every morning.  Add bell peppers and carrots to your salad or stir-fry.  A branch of fresh raw broccoli can be eaten whole, or shredded into the salad as well.  If you cannot eat the broccoli raw, steam it lightly - it goes well with garlic mushrooms.  The body does not store vitamin B, so make sure you have a good supply of it, in its natural state, every day. Vitamin B-complex – this vitamin plays a part in being mentally and emotionally well balanced.  This vitamin cannot be stored in the body so it must be taken on a daily basis to ensure adequate intake.  There are also many substances that can destroy B vitamins, such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, so it is best to try and avoid these substances. Vitamin B1 or Thiamine – this is a much needed vitamin that helps to convert glucose into fuel so that the brain can function well.  Without adequate intake of Vitamin B1 a person can become irritable, anxious, tired or depressed.  Lack of this vitamin can also result in constipation, lack of appetite, memory problems and insomnia. Some other symptoms of a lack of vitamin B1 are loss of concentration, mental confusion, muscular weakness, initially discomfort and then loss of sensation in the feet and legs due to loss of nerve function.  Eventually, heart failure can be the final symptom.  Vitamin B3 or Niacin – deficiency of vitamin B3 can result in physical and mental slowness, agitation and anxiety. Vitamin B5 or Pyridoxine – this vitamin assists in the production of amino acids which are vital building blocks for protein and other hormones.  Vitamin B5 is essential for the production of melatonin, dopamine and serotonin - all hormones that are needed to ensure a healthy and happy mind.  Vitamin B5 deficiency can also result in mental confusion and weakened immunity. Another suspect to look for is a vitamin B6 deficiency.  Symptoms are irritability, sleepiness, psychological disturbances, dermatitis, seborrhoea, shedding of skin in the mouth and eye area spreading especially to skin fold and sweaty areas of the body: inflammation of the mouth and tongue: hair growth may be affected and occasionally anaemia may result.  An increased intake of vitamin B6 where there is an associated zinc deficiency frequently relieves PMT.  The best sources are raw grains, brewer’s yeast, yeast extract, whey, wheat germ, garlic, nuts, sprouted legumes and seeds. Vitamin B12 (which we can manufacture in our intestines) was once thought to be unavailable in plant form.  However, it is now found that traces of it are indeed available in a variety of plant foods - in keeping with the minute amounts we need. The body needs vitamin B12 to form red blood cells.  A deficiency can result in pernicious anaemia which can result in mood swings, dementia, paranoia, irritability, hallucinations, confusion and other problems. Vitamin B does not store well.  Bearing this in mind, processed or cooked foods do not meet the requirements, even if they are rich in vitamin B in their original state.  Vitamin C is essential for a healthy body and mind particularly during stressful times or while pregnant or breastfeeding.  Fresh fruit is rich in both iron and vitamin C.  Vitamin C also promotes the absorption of iron in the stomach. The vitamins listed above are all essential for a healthy mind and body and unfortunately many people are lacking in many of these vitamins.  Although vitamin deficiency may not be the full cause of a person’s depression, making sure you have an adequate daily intake of vitamins and minerals is one step in the right direction towards beating depression. You know I'm always looking for ways for you to make online money, right? Well, I finally found this new program called Profit Bank and it does all the work for you. There's nothing to set up and it only takes one click after you sign up. I think you'll really like this. Click here to make money Foods for Depression... Herbs and Depression Lavender tea may be beneficial. Mix lavender flowers and leaves (1/2 teaspoon of each) and steep for 10 minutes in a cup of boiled water before straining.  Drink in the morning. If the depression is caused by psychological tension, and there is no high blood pressure, 1 teaspoonful of dried rosemary steeped for 10 minutes in a cup of boiled water is worth taking.  Have one cup three times daily. If there is shock involved with the depression, use Rescue Remedy. St John’s Wort hypericum perforatum, is widely used in European countries in preference to chemical remedies.  It relieves symptoms of mild to medium depression. Sage brings minerals into the system, magnesium, calcium and zinc. These are often deficient in depressed people. Grow your own sage or buy dried sage. Do not substitute with rubbed sage. Selenium is a trace element which is largely missing from our commercially farmed food. It is a powerful antioxidant with anti-cancer action. One of the effects of a shortage of selenium is depression, especially if one does not eat quantities of organic food. Some other symptoms of a deficiency are hair loss, desire for alcohol, pain over the left eye, dry, scaly or itchy palms or involuntary dribbling. Foods for Depression... What to Avoid with Depression Refined sugar upsets the blood sugar, causing mood swings including aggression and depression.  Aspartame - commonly used in manufacturing artificial sweeteners - upsets the hormonal system. Onions, mustard, cabbage, turnips, garlic, radish and raw egg*.  Personally, tea, and in particular Earl Grey tea, seems to bring on depression if taken in great quantities. Remember the mineral lead that used to billow into our air by car exhausts? That was found to be another common cause of depression - particularly if we do not eat much in the way fruit and vegetables but do eat refined carbohydrates.  If you are in an area that is constantly being poisoned with lead, get away from it as often as possible.  Calcium supplements, especially bone meal and dolomite, often contain traces of lead.  Reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates (pasta, bread, sugar, jams) and eat to your heart’s content of fresh raw fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds.  Satisfy any yearning for carbohydrates with potatoes, corn, oats, bananas or chemical free dried fruit. Fat that has been processed and heated can cause depression.  If you do not wish to give up these fats (animal fats have always been heated), then keep a diary of when you eat them and what your emotions were for the following two days.  That way you can decide if, for you, they are worth eating. Depression can be due to too much histamine in the body.  Healthy adrenal glands balance histamine with anti-histamine but if the adrenal glands are malfunctioning (sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, vinegar and alcohol) the balance is lost, often resulting in a feeling of depression.  The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported in 1980 that people eating too many refined carbohydrates displayed certain types of neurosis.  This includes sensitivity to criticism, poor impulse control, frequent irritability, hostile behaviour, tendency to anger easily, sleep disturbances, chronic debilitating fatigue and depression.  Dr Payne, a GP turned researcher from England, firmly believes that electricity, microwaves and radio waves cause a variety of illnesses, including depression.  His investigations began when an abnormally high number of patients from one particular road were suffering leukaemia, headaches, depression and miscarriages.  He visited the road and discovered that a high voltage power line ran down the middle.  He also warns that mobile phones cause disturbances in the body and that heavy mobile phone users frequently suffer severe headaches. A great deal of research is being channelled in this direction and some very interesting material is emerging.  Radiation specialists at Bristol University published their findings that electromagnetic fields around the power leads of ordinary domestic appliances can attract radioactive particles of cancer-causing radon.  So these negative effects can be found inside the home, not only around power lines. Dr Payne recommends these minimum safe distances when using common domestic appliances which produce electromagnetic fields: Microwave ovens: 52 ins (1.25 m) Bedside tea maker: 36 ins (1 m) Hairdryer: 32 ins (75 m) - keep at arm’s length! Colour TV: 32 ins (75 cm) VDU screen: 30 ins (70 cm) Electric fan: 20 ins (50 cm) Electric blanket: 18 ins (45 cm) - do not use at all. Mains radio: 20 ins (50 cm) Electric kettle: 12 ins (30 cm) Toaster: 12 ins (30 cm) Ringing telephone: 12 ins (30 cm) Foods for Depression... Notes and Pointers About Depression Benefit from sunlight, on the skin and particularly on the naked eye, for at least 30 minutes per day.  Moderate exercise, particularly a brisk walk outdoors, with swinging arms and a loose stride is highly recommended.  Mix 3 drops of camphor, camomile, jasmine, bergamot, ylang-ylang or thyme essential oil into some carrier oil in the palm of the hand and gently rub into the feet, chest and abdominal area.  Two or three mixes may be required. For the brave or desperate – try cold water therapy.  Fill the bath with cold water (about 16 degrees) and get in slowly, acclimatising the body.  Give the feet three to five minutes, then about the same time for the legs - then up to the shoulders. Lay back and stay there for 10 to 20 minutes.  Yes, you will be cold, but not unbearably so.  You may even want to submerge your head for a few moments!  It is wonderful for getting the blood galloping with oxygen to all parts of the body, leaving you feeling fabulously refreshed.  Depression is not possible when you feel like this. According to recent research, ionisers can help beat depression. Candida albicans (yeast infection) can manifest itself in many ways, including depression. Winter blues could mean you have too little melatonin.  Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, mainly during the hours of darkness, peaking between midnight and 4 a.m., while asleep.  The amount produced lessens as we get older.  Production is also immediately stopped should one wake up to bright light during the night.  In winter, when night falls early, the body prepares for melatonin production but gets confused when one spends time in artificial light.  The electromagnetic rays from computers may also negatively affect its production.  During sleep, melatonin combats the poisons called free radicals which were manufactured during the course of the day.  It is assisted by minerals and enzymes found in fresh fruit and vegetables.   The lack of serotonin, another neurotransmitter, is often involved with depression. To stimulate the production of serotonin, eat chicken, avocado, bananas, wheat germ and omega 3-rich fish. Being 60% fat itself, the brain is dulled by a high fat diet. The exception being omega-3 oil since it encourages the production of serotonin. *Onions, mustard, cabbage, turnips, garlic, radish and raw egg can upset biotin in the stomach, affecting the emotions.  Final Thoughts on Foods for Depression... Although overcoming depression is a long and hard process, it is possible.  You will need to be determined to beat your depression and I am sure you will have some bad days along the way.  Try to turn the cycle around so you begin to have more good days and less bad days and you can succeed at getting your old, happy life back.   Taking responsibility for your own health is the first major step and the fact you are reading the facts about nutrition and the connection between foods and depression indicates you may be interested in investigating natural or alternative health solutions. If you are interested in learning more information take a look at Acne and Foods for more valuable advice and guidance.   <<< Back to Facts About Nutrition   Foods for Depression... Facts About Nutrition and Foods for Depression The Facts About Nutrition website is for people interested in understanding and taking responsibility for their own Health. Please be aware the information on this site is provided only for educational or informational purposes and is not meant to substitute the advice of your own medical professional. Any nutritional recommendations made should not substitute the dietary guidance of your doctor. The biochemistry of each person is different and your doctor may be aware of specifics concerning your health which may preclude you from applying the guidelines given here. If you consider using this information, it is important you should first advise your doctor as a matter of courtesy and as a matter of some prudence if you are already taking any other course of treatment . Please be aware the funding for the continued maintenance of this site comes from the commissions I make through referrals via my affiliate links. I am an "affiliate" for the information products displayed. Whenever you purchase a product via my link, that affiliate program pays me a commission, you do not pay me. Please read our full Disclaimer