Depression Diet - Let Food Be Your Medicine

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It's useful to know more about the relationship between depression and diet. Understand that eating a well balanced diet is important to keep yourself mentally and physically healthy. A deficiency in some of the essential nutrients and vitamins that your body needs, can make you feel depressed. In this article, you'll learn more about how eating a well balanced diet can help you overcome depression.

What you eat can significantly affect your mood. Understand that your diet won't necessarily treat depression. However, getting the proper nutrition you need by eating healthy foods rich in essential nutrients and vitamins, is important for you to achieve a healthy mood. Studies show that eating a healthy diet rich in carbohydrates and protein can help increase the production of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in your brain that helps regulate your mood. It can be a good idea to include turkey or soy with pasta or potatoes in your diet. That's one 'natural' non-pharmaceutical antidepressant!

Foods rich in omega-3 essential fats are known to help improve your mood and concentration as well. Some of the best sources of omega-3 oils are salmon, sardines, flax seeds, walnuts, soybeans and scallops. Omega-3 fats cannot be manufactured by your body. Your only source is to take in foods or supplements containing these essential fats. Surveys show that the more fish a population in a certain place eats, the lower the incidence of depression. 

However, it's important to know that there are also certain foods that you need to avoid. Eating a lot of junk food containing trans fats can increase your risk of suffering from depression. Avoid eating too much fast food, as these are unhealthy and only packed with empty calories.

Do you know that dark chocolate may affect your mood? That would be a really good reason to enjoy a nice warm cup of cocoa drink. Just remember not to consume too much! 

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.There are many factors that can cause or trigger depression, including stress and nutritional deficiency. If your diet lacks important nutrients, then you might not be feeding yourself enough to support the proper functioning of your brain. 

Understand that proper nutrition is very important. A healthy diet is essential for good health. What you eat can affect your mood as well. Generally, having good eating habits together with regular exercise is good for you.

There's a link between depression and a deficiency in B vitamins such as B-6, B-12 and folate. It's best to make sure that you're feeding yourself enough with these vitamins. Some good sources of B vitamins are fish, meat, poultry, eggs and milk. 

Tryptophan is an amino acid that can be converted into the neurotransmitter serotonin. Tryptophan can be found in many protein rich foods, such as turkey, meat, fish, beans and eggs. 

It has been known that there's a link between depression and diabetes. A blood sugar balance is important for you to have a healthy mood. Often times, poor blood sugar balance can be a big factor in some cases of mood disorders. Chromium is a mineral that can help keep your blood sugar level stable. Some of the food sources of chromium are whole grains, bread, broccoli, beef, fish, potatoes and fresh vegetables.

Vitamin D deficiency is often linked to depression. Some people who live in places where there isn't much sunlight available are prone to suffer from depression. This is also called the winter blues, Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. It can be helpful to spend some time outdoors under the sun and get that 'sunshine vitamin'. You can also make use of an artificial light that mimics the sun's natural rays. 

 Depression - Food for the Brain

 

"Surveys have shown that the more fish the population of a country eats the lower is their incidence of depression." 

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Original article: Depression Diet - Let Food Be Your Medicine.