Anti Depression Foods
To treat mild depression, you can use alternative medicine in addition to psychotherapy for example: Natural antidepressant, homeopathy, acupuncture, light therapy or a balanced diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and anti depression foods.
It is possible to prevent depression by a balanced lifestyle- eating properly from a variety of foods of all nutrients groups, focusing on natural unprocessed foods, regular physical activity, by taking care of yourself and your sleep, adequate rest and avoiding periods of extreme fatigue, surrounding yourself with people who make you feel good.
All this represents a balanced physical and emotional life that can prevent the onset of depression.
A recent British study found that a diet rich in processed foods, sugar and fat increases the risk of depression by 58%.
People who tend to be depressed should conform to a Mediterranean kind of eating plan rather than consuming more processed, developed and richer foods. Researchers from Inserm and University College London have shown a lower risk of depression among the followers of this type of diet, according to the British Journal of Psychiatry.
Their study involved nearly 3,500 people aged 55 years on average and recruited from a cohort of civil servants working in London. The researchers evaluated depression risk over five years using a self-assessment questionnaire by distinguishing two types of diets:
A diet based on vegetables, fruits and fish “whole foods” and a diet consisting mainly of fried foods, dishes made of red meat or cereals, sugar and chocolate desserts and dairy products with high fat content “processed foods”. The researchers found that people consuming more “whole foods” have significantly reduced depression compared to those consuming “processed foods”.
While this work focused mainly on white men and officers, who are not totally representative of the UK population and a self-assessment questionnaire is less accurate than a full dietary survey. But the researchers exclude the possibility that depression may be responsible for the diet. The protective effect of a healthy diet against depression can be explained by various factors, besides the fact that fruits and vegetables have a high antioxidant content.
A large Scandinavian study showed a relationship between a food poor in folate found in cruciferous vegetables and an increased risk of depression. A reduction in the risk of depression was also associated with fish consumption. This is another reason to adopt the Mediterranean diet, also to reap all the benefits it offers.
Recent studies show, for example, the consequences of sugary foods on the behavior of hyperactive children or having problems falling asleep .
Unbalanced diet and depression are linked. People eating from a varied diet with natural products– complex carbohydrates , vegetables, fruits and fish appear protected against the symptoms of depression.
What seems to protect people from depression is the high load of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables, the consumption of polyunsaturated fats and folate- folic acid.
It has been proven that Omega 3 has an effect on cardiovascular protection and the mood disorders and depression. Omega 3s are essential fatty acids that contain EPA and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) which are lipids that are concentrated in cell membranes. They contribute to the proper functioning of nerve cells.
Omega 3 deficiency is responsible for hyperactivity, anxiety and low resistance to stress in children and adults. Foods rich in Omega 3 include fatty fish, oils (olive, canola) and legumes.
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