Depression is usually treated as a mental issue that needs to be addressed with methods such as stress relief. We are told to meditate, unplug from social media, start journaling or speak to a counsellor.
It’s always about getting our feelings in check so that we don’t spiral down as vicious cycle of despair and hopelessness. While the tips above are good and effective, there is also a silent culprit that most people don’t even realize.
Does Diet Affect Depression?
Our diet plays an important role in how we look and feel. If your diet is clean and you’re getting the nutrients you need, you’ll be in great health and be much less likely to get depressed.
Unfortunately, most people are on a poor diet that is high in processed foods, junk food and sugary treats. Food is used as therapy instead of fuel.
Even people who try to go on a plant-based diet and get healthy are shortchanged because commercial farming on a large scale has caused vegetables and fruit to be grown on nutrient-depleted soils.
One of the causes is overpopulation. As farmers try to create more produce to feed the world, they have little choice but to ‘speed things up’. So, we have produce grown on soil that hasn’t rested enough. The end result is vegetables and fruit that look like the real thing but are low in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. The best way to remedy this problem is to consume these foods but also consume supplements to take up the slack.
Fish Oil
One of the best supplements you should be consuming is fish oil. This could be krill oil, cod liver oil or wild Alaskan salmon oil. These supplements are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and will balance the ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in our bodies.
The current day diet is overly high in omega-3 fats and this has led to many different health issues ranging from inflammation to heart attacks. When your body is inflamed, you’ll be more prone to lethargy and body aches… which can cause someone to feel out of it and get depressed.
Vitamin D
A vitamin D deficiency can cause you to feel tired, lethargic, depressed and you may be prone to illness. Millions of people around the world often feel like they’ve lost all interest in living.
They just want to sit on the couch and vegetate in front of the TV. Anything else seems like too much effort and they blame their state on their own laziness or lack of motivation.
In reality, many of them are suffering from a vitamin D deficiency. This vitamin is known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’. Your body produces it when you’re exposed to sunlight.
The problem now is that people wake up early to go to work and they sit in an office all day. By the time they’re ready to go home, the sun is setting or has set.
People who try to stay active often workout in a gym or at home. Once again, they don’t get exposed to sunlight. So, vitamin D deficiency occurs. An easy way to remedy this problem will be to consume a vitamin D supplement. This is useful to people who live in a climate where there are only a few hours of sunlight daily.
Chromium
This trace mineral will boost your serotonin levels. This will have a positive effect on the chemicals in your brain and help to stabilize your moods.
A lack of chromium can lead to depression because you just can’t seem to feel happy. Take a chromium supplement whenever you can.
Vitamin B
This vitamin helps with digestion and improves your appetite. A loss of appetite is a common symptom of depression.
You need to eat healthy to battle depression, but depression makes you lose your interest in food. Vitamin B helps remedy this problem. Besides that, it improves nerve function and boosts your energy levels.
Depression can be alleviated by increasing your energy and stabilizing your moods. So, vitamin B is useful here.
Probiotics
Gut health is crucial for overall health. Consuming a probiotic will help keep your gut healthy and it will positively affect how you feel.
Magnesium
This is one of the most important minerals that you should never be deficient in. Many diseases can usually be traced back to a lack of magnesium.
It has been proven to battle depression and is used by the body in hundreds of other processes. Your health will be much better when you’re getting sufficient magnesium. A magnesium supplement will meet your daily needs.
Besides the supplements mentioned above, there are others such as amino acids, GABA, folic acid, SAM-e, caffeine, etc. that help too. You may wish to do your research and test a few of them out.
While you can get all the vitamins and minerals mentioned above from natural food sources, sometimes it’s impossible to meet your needs with just food alone.
You’ll have a tough time trying to get sufficient fish oil in your diet because you’ll need to consume fish daily. A supplement is much easier… and this is just one example of many.
Practice clean eating, but also tap into the power of good supplements to boost your health and battle depression. It can be done. Do speak to your doctor before consuming any supplements.