Emotional Health Help: Diet and Nutrition Vs. Anti-Depressant Drugs

Over 50% of Americans take some form of prescribed anti-depressant drug. Anti-depressants can be helpful in treating depression, but there is a larger, oft-overlooked piece to solving the depression puzzle. Diet and nutrition.

Why are anti-depressants drugs so commonly prescribed? Because they are an easy, quick fix. But depression, in many cases is a chronic condition. Weeds often have deep roots. So does depression. Ask any gardener and they will tell you that you cannot rid your garden of weeds without some deep digging. In order to root out depression, some deep digging needs to be done. Those root causes of depression can be difficult to unearth and treat. An anti-depressant drug alone can't root out chronic depression.

While depression is often deep-rooted, it isn't necessarily difficult to find root causes of depression. Sometimes, the simplest things can affect a person's mood. Physical health is a big part of emotional health. Depression is often linked to a physical issue. And one of the best ways to treat a physical or emotional issue is with proper diet and nutrition. Here is a diet that I call the 'Anti-Depressant Diet'. This eating strategy will boost your metabolism, balance hormones and help you to build resistance to depressive episodes.

-Increase protein intake while reducing the fat to protein ratio: Protein is brain food. When you feed your brain, it works more effectively. Your thought processes will be healthier. But avoid foods with a high saturated or trans-fat levels, especially animal fats or cholesterol fats. Foods like salmon, tuna, nuts, legumes, beans and soy have a high protein, low fat combination.

-Avoid foods treated with steroids. Dairy products like milk, eggs and cheese often come from cows treated with RBGH, RBST or other steroidal growth hormones. Steroids can trigger major depressive or anger episodes. Look for dairy products labeled with 'no added growth hormones).

-Eat a diet rich in foods containing iron and B Vitamins. Niacin (B-3), riboflavin (B-2), pyridoxamine (B-6), folic acid (B-9) and thiamine (B-1) are other names for the B vitamins. B-12 is another of the B vitamins that just goes by the name b-12. B vitamins are found in dark green and leafy vegetables, whole grains, rice, fish, chicken, liver, egg yolks and cheese. B vitamins are essential for emotional health support. Avoid foods that are 'enriched' with vitamin B, however. Iron helps prevent fatigue and 'tired blood'. Consider taking a vitamin B complex and iron supplement.

-Get proper amounts of omega-3 oil. Omega-3 has been shown helpful in treating inflammation. Less pain equals less depression.

-Avoid foods processed with these ingredients: monosodium glutamate (can cause headaches), hydrogenated fats (includes partially hydrogenated fats), sodium nitrate and nitrites and foods with artificial dyes. Each of these chemicals has been linked to emotional health issues.

-Watch the caffeine and sweets. A cup of two of coffee daily may not be too dangerous, but heavy coffee consumption has a see-saw effect on heart rate and energy levels. Caffeine gives the momentary energy boost followed by a period of low energy and fatigue. Sugar has this effect, too.

-Eat your fruits raw and avoid drinking too much fruit juice. Fruit and fruit juice is great. But the high levels of sugar concentrated in juice can cause sugar rush followed fast crash. A volatile combination for depression.

For more emotional health, nutrition and wellness information, visit me at www.healthhelp4u.blogspot.com.