How diet and depression relate to each other?
Diet is a major facet of depression, as food plays a significant role on the energy level and mood change. Diet can either add to the extent/cause of depression or can even help in healing of the psychological condition. Diet habit can not only cause but also add to depression, caused by another factor.
The very role of diet in depression has given rise to diet therapy for dealing with depression. There is no doubt that depression, irrespective of the reason, is a result of malfunctioning of brain chemistry. Research has found out that good food can lead to mood enhancement as well as restoration of lost nutrients that are essential for right functioning of brain.
If you in a state of misery, depression or gloominess, the best way to deal with it is to have diet rich in carbohydrate, brown rice, protein and wheat. Food rich in fiber, vegetables and quality fat are an essential requirement for mind and body when it comes to dealing with depression. Eating pears, apples, wheat germ and apples can be a good idea.
There are some good quality fats required by human body for its source of good health, right get-up-and-go lifestyle; these include sesame oil, fish oil, non-hydrogenated oil and omega 3 fatty acid. The role of omega 3- fatty acid in treatment of depression can not be ignored. A good meal can ad to the pleasure as well as health, which is why people eating homely cooked food are less prone to depression when compared to those indulged in junk eating habit.
You can not fight with a mood swing or depressed situation empty stomach, as that’s the state when mind is busy consuming every left ounce of body energy to make a decision or to react to the problem.
While on one side food is considered as the savior or healer from depression, there are some foods that are best avoided to help depression. The dark side of diet and depression relationship often consists of alcohol, caffeine, tea and sugar, as these might give a mood lift for a period of time but can lead to vitamin deficiency, obesity, weight gain, moodiness, addiction and dehydration. Research has proven that a cut down or avoid of sugar, caffeine and alcohol can reduce depression as well as make a person positive.
There is a direct relationship between depression and vitamin, as deficiencies of some vitamins often puts a person under depressive condition or mood. Inadequate intake of vitamin B-12, antioxidant vitamins, folate as well as of polyunsaturated fatty acids, has been a close cause of depression. Adequate vitamin B intake eases down feeling of misery, relives anxiety and helps in overcoming helplessness.
Best thing to do when feeling depressed is to stay away from temptations like chocolate, coffee and fatty junk food and to indulge, instead, in nutrition filled, balanced and healthy diet to freshen the mind.
