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Many reports indicate that today’s lifestyle trends greatly contribute to rapidly increasing worldwide depression levels. However, many doctors believe that improper diet such as skipping meals, obesity, habitually eating fatty snacks and fast food or foods containing additives, harmful artificial ingredients, hormones, high fructose corn syrups and simple carbohydrates is a larger contributing factor.
Simple Carbs
Carbohydrates come in two sizes, simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates comprise most breads, cookies, cakes, pastries, your typical pasta and foods made with white enriched flour, white rice, beer and wine. These foods quickly break down into sugar, causing a spike in our body’s blood sugar levels, and temporarily boosting our spirits. But this also causes our pancreas to start producing excess insulin, which causes our blood sugar levels to fall, lowering our mood. This in turn causes irritability and more cravings (see addiction).
Complex Carbs
Complex carbohydrates however, also break down into sugar, but slowly cause insulin levels to remain fairly constant while still lifting mood without producing cravings. Some studies even suggest that complex carbohydrates may increase serotonin levels. These help regulate attention, thus improving memory and contributing to feelings of well-being and happiness.
Corticosterone at Work
Our brain creates our moods, thoughts, feelings, dreams, motivation and emotions. People experiencing depression often suffer from some level of attention and memory loss. This is a result of increased levels of another brain chemical, corticosterone, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands which helps the regulation of energy, immune reactions, and stress responses.
Diet Is the Culprit
There is convincing research that today’s diet is one key element in the depression epidemic equation.
Complex carbohydrates improve mood without the resulting lows and are found in most brans, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, roots and fresh fruit. In addition, foods such as turkey and chicken as well as potatoes and sunflower seeds help produce tryptophan which later helps produce serotonin. Note: dietary supplements of tryptophan should not be taken as they were removed for sale in the United States.
Vitamin Mood Enhancers
Another mood enhancer is the Omega-3 fatty acid found in avocados, soybeans, tofu, fish and flax seeds. Omega-3 fatty acids help with the function of dopamine and serotonin to help improve mood. Some studies show that increased level of Omega-3 help to reduce depression.
Research also shows the lack of vitamin B, especially B6, B12 and folic acid, may contribute to depression. Likewise, lack of calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium and sodium are also associated with depression.
Keeping it Fresh
Garden fresh fruits and vegetables help fight off and neutralize the free radicals that contribute to cell damage and memory loss. Growing your own fresh vegetables gives added benefits of getting exercise, fresh air, sunshine (vitamin D), plus the pride of accomplishing something useful and having the sheer pleasure of harvesting delicious fresh food.
Poor diet simply can’t provide sufficient nutrients to power our brains properly. Make a change in your life that matters. Eat a properly well-balanced diet.
This report is not a diagnosis. We hope this information can guide you toward improving your life.
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