Fighting depression with a diet.

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Medication? You can Battle Depression Effectively with a Proper Diet! http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/before.htmSSRI-antidepressant advertising campaigns have claimed thatdepression is linked with an imbalance of the neurotransmitterserotonin, and that SSRIs can correct this imbalance. This theory ofa "bio-chemical imbalance" is heavily flawed. Scientificallyspeaking, there is no causal relationship whatsoever between "lowserotonin" and "depression." Studies that were performed to evaluate the effect of depletingserotonin levels in humans in order to induce depression, reaped noconsistent results. Low serotonin levels did NOT produce an increasein clinical depression in healthy humans. (click to observe study).In fact, researchers found that huge increases in brain

serotonin,arrived at by administering high-dose L-tryptophan, were ineffectiveat relieving depression. (click to observe study)So, are (SSRI) antidepressants an answer? Since we now know thatthese prescription drugs are not correcting any "bio-chemicalimbalance" but putatively increase serotonergic activity (andtherefore serotonin levels in your complete body, not solely thebrain, risking the potentially fatal toxic hyperserotonergic state ofthe Serotonin Syndrome) and since we now know that low serotoninlevels do not have any scientifically proven causal relationship withdepression, one could ask if it is worth taking risks by ingesting anagent that can drastically alter and damage your entire personalsystem in ways that medical science doesn't even understand?Medical research in a study dating 25 sept, 2004 shows us clearlythat serotonin toxicity can even appear rapidly in a few hours aftertaking a

single therapeutic dose of SSRI medication. In Bio-Psychiatry it is a common thought that SSRI's are believed to havetheir effect by inhibiting the re-uptake of serotonin (downregulationof transporters) and thereby gradually increasing serotonin outsidethe tissue cell wall (extracellular) in the synaptic gap betweenbrain cells (neurons) in the brain. In this important study, Zoloft(Lustral, sertraline) was given to monkeys for 4 weeks to establishhow long it would take before Zoloft would have it's effect onserotonergic neurons and thus elevation of serotonin. In contrastwith the commonly accepted SSRI theory, it was observed thatserotonin levels raised NOT gradually, but rapidly and dramaticallyand kept on raising during these 4 weeks, an effect that can NOT beascribed solely to a "re-uptake inhibition" of serotonin!Seventeen (17) years after introducing the first SSRI-antidepressanton the market in 1987, our

"Medical Science" discovers theirprescription drugs "work" in toxic ways to be never expected. Theydid not know... yet they were brought onto the market as "safe andeffective." And still these toxic antidepressants are on themarket... What does that tell you?In numerous case reports/studies (more...), one side of the dangerousrisks by ingesting antidepressants have been exposed, ranging from:mental state, perceptual, emotional and psychological changes tosuicidal, aggressive and/or homicidal thoughts & behaviours, self-harm and failed/succeeded suicide attempts.Fortunately and finally in October 2004, the MHRA in the UnitedKingdom as well as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in theUnited States of America acknowledged antidepressant prescriptiondrugs to induce suicidal thoughts and behaviours in children,adolescents and adults of which causal relationship has been proven.Hence it is ordered that

ALL antidepressants carry theprominent "black-box" suicide warnings.Furthermore, in numerous other case reports/studies, also reversal aswell as permanent damage to vital organs as a direct result ofantidepressant use has been confirmed.So why taking such a huge risk in order to find instant relief fromprescription drugs that have been proven to damage your health?Prescription drugs that indeed have been proven to powerfully alteryour mind and perception, unfortunately with all tragic consequences?Since the earliest civilisations, the link between mental health,emotional states and diet, food and drink have been recognised, yetthis is seldom taken into consideration by conventional medicalpractitioners today as prescriptions for psychotropic drugs are oftenissued as a first line of treatment, without taking into account thewide range of alternative options that are available and often

moreappropriate.Normal everyday life can cause ups and downs bringing about feelingswhich include happiness/sadness, euphoria/despondency andlaughing/weeping. Sometimes one can understand and relate to why theyare feeling this way. For example, it is normal for one to feel sadfollowing a bereavement, just as it is normal for one to feeleuphoric when they have passed an exam that they worked hard for orbeen offered a job which they really wanted. However, people'sexperiences of depression vary from person to person and it is oftenvery difficult for an outsider who has not been there to understandexactly what that person is going through for depression is more thansimply feeling down; it can incapacitate sufferers to such a degreethat they feel totally isolated, imprisoned and immobilised. It canaffect anyone, at any time, of any age - nobody is immune.Around 25% of the population may experience some form of

depressionat some point in their lives and statistics show that women areslightly more susceptible than men. There are many contributingfactors to depression which include lifestyle, behaviour andrelationships.Depression frequently follows some life shattering event such asbereavement, serious illness in the family, redundancy, divorce,bankruptcy or other financial difficulties and in many situations allthat is needed is good support. Symptoms include changes in appetiteleading to weight gain or loss; changes in sleeping habits, ie.insomnia or constant sleeping; feelings of being out of control;hyperactivity or total lethargy; loss of interest and sex drive;reduced energy and fatigue or listlessness; feelings of worthlessnessor guilt, lack of concentration and finally, thoughts of death orsuicide. Depression is likely to be diagnosed if any five of thesesymptoms are experienced and last for a period of one

month.Poor diet can have a disastrous effect on memory, co-ordination,concentration, powers of reason, behaviour and mood although this isvery rarely recognised or looked into by medical professionals.Mental distress is linked to a deficiency of iron, magnesium and B-complex vitamins. Zinc deficiency can also be a major factor incausing depression and leads to loss of appetite, subsequent poornutrition, inevitable chronic fatigue and finally, depression. Manypeople who go to their doctor complaining of fatigue are oftenwrongly assumed to be suffering from depression and prescribed anti-depressant drugs which doctors often use as a first line oftreatment. Unfortunately, many of these drugs can interfere with zincabsorption. Low levels of zinc in the body can not only lead to aloss of appetite and fatigue (which can be exacerbated by anti-depressants) but can also be a factor in the cause of depressionitself. It

is therefore important to get adequate amounts of zinc inyour diet in order to prevent a downward spiral from forming. Sourcesof zinc include: shellfish, pumpkin seeds, mushrooms, soya beans,wheat products (especially wheatgerm and wheat bran), sesame seeds,cocoa, sunflower seeds, sweetcorn, rice, wholemeal bread, oats,cheeses (especially cheddar and edam), legumes (especially adukibeans), peas, barley, nuts (especially almonds), peanuts and peanutbutter, wholegrain flours, buckwheat and brown rice.The majority of women and many children have diets that are deficientin iron, and zinc levels appear to be falling as the consumption ofconvenience foods rises. Consequently, it is hardly surprising thatdepression is becoming more common. Excessive consumption of caffeinewhich can be found in tea, coffee, fizzy drinks or chocolate andlarge amounts of bran interferes with mineral absorption and cantherefore trigger the

onset of depression. Overstimulation of thecentral nervous system by caffeine can cause extreme mood swings.A diet that is high in refined carbohydrates and sugars is a commonfactor in depressive illness and alcohol can also have a severedepressant effect. Vitamin deficiencies may have specific effects onmental states. These are detailed below:Vitamin C: generalised depression, extreme tiredness, outbursts ofhysterical behaviour. Vitamin C can be found in oranges, kiwi fruits,broccoli, blackcurrants and potatoes, red pepper, parsley, greenleafy vegetables (especially kale), green pepper, tomato puree,brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage (especially savoy),strawberries, watercress, spinach, grapefruit, melon (all types),peas, raspberries, spring onions, swede and turnip, tomatoes.Vitamin B12: general mental deterioration; psychotic behaviour,depression, loss of memory and paranoia. Vitamin B12 can be found

incheeses (especially cheddar, parmesan and edam), fortified yeastextract such as marmite, cottage cheese and milk.Vitamin B1 (thiamine): depression, irritability, loss of memory, lossof concentration and exhaustion. Sources of Vitamin B1 includebreakfast cereals, peas, sunflower seeds, millet, wheat germ, sesameseeds, soy beans, nuts (especially brazil, cashew nuts, almonds andwalnuts), legumes (especially split peas, blackeye beans, kidneybeans, lentils, chick peas), whole grains (especially brown rice andoatmeal), whole wheat, rye and potatoes.Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): Psychosis, mental deterioration anddepression. Sources of Vitamin B6 include wheat products (especiallywheatgerm and oatmeal), nuts (especially walnuts), legumes,(especially soy beans, lentils, butter beans, haricot beans), barley,bananas, peanuts and peanut butter, avocados, buckwheat, wheat andrye, raisins and brussels sprouts.Folic Acid:

fatigue, irritability, insomnia, forgetfulness andconfusion. Folic Acid can be found in dried baker's yeast, fortifiedyeast extract such as marmite, blackeye beans, kidney beans, endive,broccoli, legumes (especially chickpeas), soy beans, vegetables(especially spinach, brussels sprouts, spring greens, okra, cabbage),almonds, beetroot, parsnips, walnuts, oatmeal, brown rice, corn (oncob).Vitamin B3 (niacin; niacinamide): loss of memory, mood swings,depression and anxiety. Sources of Vitamin B3 include fortified yeastextract (such as marmite), brewer's yeast, peanuts and peanut butter,sesame seeds, brown rice, wholemeal flour, wheatgerm, wholemealspaghetti, wholemeal bread, barley, legumes (especially split peas)and cheeses (especially parmesan, cheddar and blue cheeses).Biotin: severe lethargy, depression and constant sleeping. Biotin canbe found in eggs.Pantothenic Acid: insomnia, fatigue, depression and

psychosis.Sources include broad beans, peanuts and peanut butter, legumes(especially split peas and soy beans), buckwheat, mushrooms, nuts(especially cashews and hazelnuts), avocados, broccoli and oatmeal.Some commonly prescribed drugs can lead to depression too, examplesof which include antibiotics; barbiturates; amphetamines;corticosteroids and the long term use of steroids, pain killers;ulcer drugs; drugs used in the treatment of arthritis; drugs used totreat slipped discs; anticonvulsants; beta-blockers; medicines usedfor the treatment of high blood pressure, drugs used to treat heartconditions, especially if they contain resperine; drugs used to treatcardiac arrhythmias; the contraceptive pill; antiparkinsonian drugs;psychotropic drugs and drugs used to treat alcoholism. Although manypeople claim that they smoke to relieve tension, nicotine is anotherchemical which combined with raised blood levels of carbon

monoxide,can have a detrimental effect on mood and brain function.Improved nutrition can be used to relieve depression and enhanceoverall mental health, mental ability and performance. Key nutrientscan be obtained from a variety of sources which include eating a widevariety of vegetables, fruit and salads, plenty of wholegraincereals, all types of beans, pasta and brown rice. Grapes, millet,wheatgerm, brewer's yeast, oats, buckwheat, molasses, dairy products,berries, figs (fresh or dried), unsalted seeds and nuts, shellfish,nutmeg, ginger, basil, and rosemary all have a key role to play ineating to beat depression.Chocolate can be a mixed blessing as its high sugar content cancreate wild fluctuations in the body's blood sugar levels. In orderto function properly, the brain needs a constant regular supply ofsugar but when the level plunges from hyper (too much) to hypo (toolittle), the effects on mood and

behaviour can be devastating.Consequently, eating too many can cause one's mood to plummet as thehigh sugar content plays havoc with the blood-sugar levels. On theother hand, modest amounts of chocolate can give a real lift tosomeone who is feeling depressed as chocolate contains the chemicaltheobromine which triggers the release of endorphins in the brain. Itis these brain chemicals that mimic the euphoric feelings of "beingin love".Of all the potential triggers, attention to nutrition is the easiestand most basic first step to recovery. Ideally, investigating thenutritional aspect of one's diet should be the first step that istaken by any medical practitioner when someone presents with suchconditions but in practice, this is very rarely the case. Keepingblood-sugar levels on an even keel is a primary requirement in orderto avoid hypoglycaemia, as well as eating the vitamin B-rich foodspreviously mentioned.

An adequate supply of good calories, healthyproteins and all the essential minerals are all essential inmaintaining good mental health. However, it can sometimes be verydifficult to persuade someone who is feeling extremely depressed toeat or to dissuade them from binging on high-fat, high-sugar foods ofpoor nutritional quality. Frequent small meals that are appealing,attractive and nourishing for example home made soups, freshlysqueezed fruit and vegetable juices and plenty of good wholegraincereals could help to form the ideal basic menu.http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/before.htm "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." -

Aurobindo.

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