10 Foods That Help Treat Depression
Because of the modern lifestyle, depression has become more common nowadays. Depression is a psychological sickness that affects every aspect of a person including his intellect, emotions and even his body. The particular targets of this behavioral problem are teenagers and adults undergoing mid-life crisis.
Most people who suffer from depression find comfort in foods. The tendency is that they will eat a lot of foods in order to cover up for the low mood that they are feeling. But did you know that there are actually foods that can somehow make your mood brighter? If you are suffering from a depressive state, you can try eating these 10 foods that help treat depression.
Sweet honey
Honey has the essential nutrients that a depressed person might be lacking. It contains anti-oxidants which take away free radicals in the body. Honey can also regulate the blood sugar by releasing glucose gradually. This will help avoid mood swings.
Brown rice
Brown rice is a good source of good carbohydrate and it is easily digested because of its high-fiber contents. Like honey, brown rice also helps maintain proper amount of sugar that flows in your bloodstream to avoid fluctuating moods.
Cereals and oats
Cereals and oats contain nutrients such as fiber, folic acid and other vitamins. They also lower the body’s cholesterol level, making your heart soothed and relaxed.
Fish, shrimp and more seafood
Fish and other seafood can greatly help in treating depression. This is because seafood contains a lot of Omega-3 fatty acid which help fight free radicals and dirt that has entered the body. When you intake more seafood, you will get more Omega-3 which can help cleanse your mind and body, giving you a lighter and more comfortable disposition.
Milk
Fresh milk is rich with calcium and Omega-3 fatty acid as well. Milk also has a calming effect. To lighten up your mood, grab a glass of fresh milk.
Vegetables
Vegetables are rich in Niacin which is an essential nutrient that helps alleviate a bad mood. To lessen depression, eat more green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, broccoli and other fresh, nutritious veggies.
Fruits
Fruits are good source of Vitamin C and other minerals. Fruits like lemon, orange, berries, kiwi and the like, are delicious and packed with nutrients. You can eat fresh fruits as is or turn them into refreshing drinks or scrumptious fruit salads.
Poultry meat
Chicken, turkey and other white meat are rich in vitamins such as Vitamin B6 which helps produce more serotonin in the body. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is also called as the “happiness hormone.”
Nuts
Studies show that people suffering from depression lacks Vitamin E. Peanuts, almonds and other type of nuts are rich in Vitamin E. This nutrient can help a person feel more youthful and vibrant.
Chocolate
Although too much chocolate is not really healthy for the body, it does help release endorphin, which is a chemical responsible for making a person feel more cheerful. Eating a tiny amount of chocolate treat every now and then can make a depressed person feel better.
Raw Food Helps in Depression
I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback about raw food, that it cures all sorts of illnesses including mental health problems like depression disorder.
So now I’m trying to look into it.
You are considered a raw foodist when you eat at least 75% of your food uncooked and unprocessed. And if you imagine that this means you graze on salad leaves all day long, you can scrape this image off your mind straight away.
Raw food cuisine can be extremely rich and intense but let’s face it – it’s hard work and requires pre-planning and preparation. There are pizzas and pastas and cakes and chocolate goodies as well, but it’s all raw.
Raw foodists say that our body acidic, and to balance it and keep it healthy we need alkaline environment. Raw food is alkaline, cooked food is acidic. The more acid builds up in our bodies, the more bodies struggle with processing it until it get’s to the point when they can not do it anymore and slowly fall apart and degenerate.
There are talks that even cancer is essentially an acid build up, and with proper detox program and raw food diet, the process can be reversed.
So far, so good.
However, supermodel Carol Alt who’s been on the raw food diet for years, wrote a book about it and launched her own products says that we are individual and have to bear in mind our heritage. Where did we come from? What our ancestors were eating? For some people going completely vegan makes sense, for others – they need slightly seared fish or a plate of Carpaccio as well.
The point I’m trying to make is that before you decide to try raw food as a miracle cure, find a specialist who will test you and determine what you need exactly.
A lot of points telling us why raw food can help with depression and anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, etc. make perfect sense. You body gets healthier, receives all these necessary enzymes, vitamins and minerals, detoxifies itself and balances the chemicals in your brain responsible for your depression.
On the other hand there are still situational causes for depression (like some traumatic experience, a stressful job or dealing with people who you can’t stand) that can not be helped with just changing your diet. That’s where relaxation techniques and depression therapy changing your attitude to your environment come handy.
Overall, raw food diet can fix a lot of things that went wrong with your body, but don’t forget to use every other aspect of treatment to deal with all the causes of your depression.