Before You decide to take An Anti-Depressant

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Before You decide to take An Anti-Depressant

JoAnn Guest

Oct 17, 2005 15:55 PDT

 

Orthomolecular medicine has come a long way from the original

discovery that large doses of B and C vitamins could improve the

mental condition of schizophrenic persons.

 

Yet, according to Joseph Beasley, M.D., Director of the Department

of Medicine and Nutrition at the Brunswick Hospital Center in

Amityville, New York, conventional medicine has largely ignored the

overwhelming extent

to which poor nutrition and toxic environments have

" damaged " physical and mental health.

 

As further research is completed, though, it will become

increasingly

more difficult to ignore this important link between nutrition and

mental health.

 

=====================================================================

 

Before You decide to take An Anti-Depressant

---

Depression? - The importance of adequate nutrition!

 

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com./before.htm

 

Why use a harmful prescription drug if you can battle depression

with the right food?

 

Depression frequently follows some life shattering event such as

bereavement or a serious illness in the family.

In many situations all that is needed is 'good support'.

 

Poor diet can have a disastrous effect on memory, co-ordination,

concentration, powers of reason, behaviour and mood although this is

very rarely recognised or looked into by medical professionals.

 

Mental distress is closely linked to a deficiency of iron, magnesium

and B-complex vitamins.

 

Zinc deficiency can also be a major factor in causing depression and

leads to loss of appetite, subsequent poor nutrition, inevitable

chronic fatigue and finally, depression.

 

Many people who go to their doctor complaining of " fatigue " are

often

wrongly assumed to be suffering from depression and prescribed anti-

depressant drugs which doctors often use as a first line of

treatment.

 

Unfortunately, many of these drugs interfere with

zinc " absorption " . Low levels of zinc in the body can not only lead

to a

loss of appetite and fatigue (which also can frequently be

exacerbated

by anti-depressants) but can also be a factor in the cause of

depression

itself.

 

It is therefore important to get adequate amounts of zinc in

your diet in order to prevent a downward spiral from forming.

 

Sources of zinc include:

 

Pumpkin seeds, black mushrooms, non-gmo soya beans, organic wheat

products (especially wheatgerm and wheat bran), sesame seeds,

organic wholemeal or sprouted grain bread

(www.food-for-life.com), oats, legumes (especially broadbeans and

aduki

beans), peas, barley,raw nuts (especially almonds),

organic nut butter,buckwheat and brown rice.

 

The majority of women and many children have diets that are

deficient in iron, and zinc levels appear to be falling as the

consumption of " processed convenience " food rises.

 

Consequently, it is hardly surprising that depression is becoming

more common.

 

Refined sugar has a strong " mal-effect " on the functioning of the

brain.

The key to orderly brain function is glutamic acid, a vital compound

found in many vegetables.

 

The B vitamins play a major role in dividing glutamic acid into

antagonistic-complementary compounds which produce a proceed or

" control " response in the brain.

B vitamins are manufactured by *symbiotic bacteria*

which live in our intestines.

 

When refined sugar is taken in daily, these bacteria tend to

" wither " and die, and consequently our stock of B vitamins gets very

low.

 

Sugar makes us sleepy; our ability to calculate and

remember is lost.

 

The blood is slightly alkaline at pH 7.37 to 7.45.

 

Refined sugar promotes a condition of acidity wherever it goes - the

mouth, the stomach, the blood.

In the mouth the pH gets lower with the presence of sugar.

Calcium, magnesium, and chromium are " squandered " in the body's

attempts

to `rid' itself of this non-food.

 

Sugar taken every day produces a continuously over-acid condition,

and more and more minerals are " required " from deep in the body in

the

attempt to rectify the " imbalance " .

 

Food " faddists " like to complicate things, deriving rules and

patterns

out of thin air. Usually for the end purpose of book or supplement

or

food sales.

A reasonable proportion of fats, protein, and carbohydrates is just

common sense. Less important than the proportion of fats, protein,

and

carbohydrates is the `form' in which each is presented.

 

Digestible or indigestible?

Natural or processed?

Raw or cooked?

Sprayed or organic?

With or without enzymes?

 

These are the real issues that determine the value of a food.

These are the questions we should be asking.

 

'Acidosis' occurs when the body loses its " alkaline reserves " .

 

Some causes of acidosis include kidney, liver and adrenal disorders,

improper diet, malnutrition, " ketosis " (from high-protein diets )

anger, stress, fear, anorexia, toxemia, fever, and the use of

excessive

amounts of aspirin.

Diabetics often suffer with this condition. Stomach ulcers are often

associated with this condition as well.

 

Processed foods become our cells. We become processed food. Never

underestimate the forces at work 24 hours a day to persuade us to

consume as much processed dairy, hydrogenated soybean oil, white

sugar

and white flour as possible.

 

Excessive consumption of caffeine in coffee, fizzy drinks and

chocolate

interferes with vitamin and mineral 'absorption' and may therefore

'trigger' the " onset " of depression.

 

Overstimulation of the " central nervous system " by *caffeine* can

cause

extreme " mood swings " .

 

A diet high in " refined " carbohydrates and sugars is a common

'factor' in depressive illness and alcohol can also have a severe

depressant effect.

 

Vitamin deficiencies may also have specific effects on mental

states.

 

These are detailed below:

Vitamin C: generalised depression, extreme tiredness, outbursts of

hysterical behaviour.

 

Vitamin C

can be found in oranges, kiwi fruits, broccoli, black currants,

organic potatoes, red peppers, parsley, dark green leafy vegetables

(especially kale), green peppers, brussels sprouts, cauliflower,

cabbage (especially savoy), organic berries, watercress, spinach,

grapefruit, melon (all types), peas, raspberries, spring onions,

swede and turnip.

 

Vitamin B12: A lack of which leads to general mental deterioration;

psychotic behaviour, depression, loss

of memory and paranoia.

 

Vitamin B12 can be found in raisins (organic), organic miso,

organic blackstrap molasses,and brewer's yeast.

 

Vitamin B1

(thiamine): depression, irritability, loss of memory,

loss of concentration and exhaustion.

 

Sources of Vitamin B1 include:

Rye, barley, peas, sunflower seeds, millet, organic wheat germ,

sesame seeds (gomasio), organic soy beans, raw nuts (especially

brazils,

cashew nuts, almonds and walnuts), legumes (especially split peas,

blackeye beans, kidney beans, lentils, chick peas), organic whole

grains

(especially brown rice and organic oatmeal), and organic potatoes.

 

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine):

Psychosis, mental deterioration and depression.

 

Sources of Vitamin B6 include organic wheat products (especially

wheat germ and oatmeal),raw nuts (especially walnuts (black walnuts

are the best source) Legumes (especially pinto and organic soy

beans,

lentils, butter beans,

broad [fava] beans, haricot beans), barley,

bananas,organic peanuts, avocados, buckwheat, organic wheat and rye,

organic raisins and brussels sprouts.

 

Folic Acid:

fatigue, irritability, insomnia, forgetfulness and confusion.

 

Folic Acid can be found in blackeyed beans, kidney beans, endive,

broccoli, legumes (especially chickpeas), organic soy beans,

vegetables (especially spinach, brussels sprouts, spring greens,

okra, cabbage), almonds, beetroot, parsnips, raw walnuts,

oatmeal,and brown rice.

 

Vitamin B3 (niacin; niacinamide):

loss of memory, mood swings, depression and anxiety.

 

Sources of Vitamin

B3 include black mushrooms,organic miso, brewer's yeast,

organic peanuts, sesame seeds, brown rice, wheatgerm,

wholemeal spaghetti, organic wholemeal bread, barley, lentils and

legumes(especially split peas).

 

Biotin: severe lethargy, depression and constant sleeping.

Biotin can be found in organic eggs and amish (or free-range)

chicken

and chicken livers.

 

Pantothenic Acid: insomnia, fatigue, depression and psychosis.

 

Sources include broad [fava] beans, organic nut butter, legumes

(especially split peas and organic soy beans), buckwheat, mushrooms,

nuts (especially cashews and hazelnuts), avocados, broccoli and

organic oatmeal.

 

Some commonly prescribed drugs can lead to depression too,

 

examples of 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 to treat slipped discs;

anticonvulsants;

beta-blockers;

medicines used for the treatment of high blood pressure,

drugs used to treat heart conditions,

especially if they contain resperine;

drugs used to treat cardiac arrhythmias;

the contraceptive pill;

antiparkinsonian drugs;

psychotropic drugs and

drugs used to

treat alcoholism.

 

Although many people claim that they smoke to relieve tension,

nicotine is another chemical which combined with raised blood levels

of " carbonmonoxide " can have a detrimental effect on mood and brain

function.

 

Improved nutrition can be used to relieve depression and enhance

overall mental health, mental ability and performance.

 

Key nutrients-

can be obtained from a variety of sources which include eating a

wide variety of organic (root vegetables), fruit and

salads, all types of unprocessed dried beans, whole grain pastas and

brown rice.

 

Organic Grapes (with seeds if at all possible), millet, organic

wheatgerm, brewer's yeast, oats, buckwheat, organic

blackstrap molasses, berries, figs (fresh or dried), raw unsalted

seeds and nuts, organic nutmeg, fresh ginger root, basil,

and rosemary all have a key role to play in eating to beat

depression.

 

In order to function properly, the brain needs a constant regular

supply of natural sugar from organic fruits but when the level

plunges

from hyper (too much) to hypo (too little), the effects on mood and

behaviour can be devastating.

 

Of all the potential triggers, attention to nutrition is the easiest

and most BASIC first step to recovery.

 

Ideally, investigating the nutritional aspect of one's diet should

be the first step that is taken by any medical practitioner when

someone finds himself in such conditions

 

but in practice, this is very rarely the case.

 

An adequate supply of good calories and all the essential minerals

are

necessary for maintaining good mental health.

 

However, it can sometimes be very difficult to persuade someone who

is feeling extremely depressed to eat or to dissuade them from

binging on high-fat, high-sugar convenience foods with poor

'nutritional' quality.

 

Frequent small meals that are appealing, attractive and nourishing

for example, home made soups, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable

juices and plenty of good organic wholegrains help to form the ideal

basic menu.

 

---------------------

Foods to alleviate Depression?

Food & Mood

---

 

A link between food and mood can be traced to " neurotransmitter "

activity in the brain.

 

Complex carbohydrates as well as certain food components such as

folate (folic acid), magnesium, niacin, foods rich in omega-3 fatty

acids, selenium, and tryptophan may " decrease " symptoms of

depression.

 

We believe that it's possible to manage and/or improve certain

conditions through what you eat.

---

 

What You Should Eat & Why:

---

 

Complex carbohydrates:

 

Consuming foods that are high in 'tryptophan' along with foods

high in 'complex' carbohydrates will help enhance

the proper absorption of typtophan more effectively.

 

" Complex Carbs

boost *serotonin* activity in the brain.

 

Leading Food Sources of complex carbohydrates:

 

Broccoli,Cauliflower, Brown Rice, Organic Potatoes, Blackberries and

other berries, many varieties of unprocessed legumes and beans,

oats,

buckwheat, barley and rye.

 

Folic acid:

Because folic acid is often deficient in people who are depressed,

getting more of this vitamin through foods may help.

 

The vitamin appears to have the ability to 'reduce high levels of

" homocysteine " frequently associated with depression.

 

Leading Food Sources of folic acid:

Asparagus, Beets (beetroot), Spinach, Avocadoes, Brussels sprouts,

Bok

choy, Cabbage, Savoy, Beans, dried, Chick-peas, non-gmo Soybeans,

Lentils, Oranges, Peas, fresh, free range Turkey and Broccoli

 

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that may ease symptoms of depression by

acting as a muscle relaxant.

 

Leading Food Sources of magnesium:

Spinach, Green beans, Pumpkin seeds, Oysters, Sunflower seeds,raw

brazil

nuts,

Amaranth, Buckwheat, Avocados, Quinoa, Almonds and Barley

 

Niacin

 

Based on niacin's well-recognized role in promoting sound nerve cell

function, some experts recommend this B vitamin for relieving

depression as well as feelings of anxiety and panic.

 

Most B-vitamin complexes contain niacin for this purpose;

they also offer the mood-enhancing benefits of other B vitamins.

 

Leading Food Sources of niacin: Black mushrooms, barley, spelt,

Goat's Milk has three times the niacin of cow's milk, rice, brown,

amish

or free range Chicken and their livers, Pomegranates, alaskan

salmon,fresh Tuna and brewer's yeast.

 

Omega-3 fatty acids –

Certain omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial for depression.

 

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega 3 long chain polyunsaturated

fatty acid that is the building block of human brain tissue.

Low levels of DHA have been associated with depression.

 

Leading Food Sources of omega-3 fatty acids are: Alaskan Salmon,

Trout,water packed Sardines, olives and extra virgin olive oils

 

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/hk/remedies/disp/1,1459,453,00.html

---

 

Get Smart With Brain Fats

--

Fish oil has been a hot topic since the 1970s when it was discovered

that the Greenland Eskimos had an extremely low rate of

cardiovascular

disease despite their high-fat diet.

 

We now know why.

 

The fats in their diet — omega-3 fatty acids with the tongue-

twisting names of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic

acid (DHA) - reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels and help

prevent

dangerous blood clots that can trigger a heart attack.

 

Today, exciting new research is showing that omega-3s are not only

vital for heart health, but that DHA in particular plays a central

role

in 'brain function'.

 

Over half of your brain consists of fats, and DHA is the most

abundant.

 

It is particularly crucial in the " synapses " , the spaces between

neurons

where 'communication' between nerve cells takes place, and the

neurons'

" mitochondria', or energy-producing factories.

 

When your brain cells receive inadequate amounts of DHA, they are

forced to make do with inferior fats (hydrogenated or `transfat')

and as a result, they are unable to function at their peak.

 

DHA plays a critical role in brain development in infants and

children

and affects cognitive functioning throughout life.

 

Low levels of DHA are associated with an increased risk of memory

loss, and according to data from the long-term Framingham Heart

Studies show that people with low levels are more likely to develop

'dementia' in their later years.

 

A recent study at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, found

that Alzheimer's sufferers as well as elderly subjects with other

forms of cognitive impairment all had lower levels of DHA--

than did elderly subjects with normal cognitive functioning.

 

DHA Combats Depression -

 

Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids have also been observed in

depression and other psychological disorders.

 

Studies suggest that some patients with these disorders cannot

properly metabolize certain fats, and fish oil supplementation can

have

a positive effect in their treatment.

 

Researchers from Harvard Medical School conducted a double-blind,

placebo-controlled study which found that " manic-depressive "

patients

taking omega-3-rich fish oil capsules were symptom-free for a

significantly longer time than those taking a placebo.

 

The only side effects were occasional mild stomach upset and a

lingering

" fishy " taste.

 

The evidence linking psychiatric illness with low levels of omega-3s

continues to grow, and some researchers have even suggested that the

documented rise of depression in the Western world may be linked to

decreasing fish consumption.

 

Of course, the corresponding increase in our intake of harmful

saturated fats and trans- fatty acids probably plays a role as well.

 

Feed Your Brain-

How can you ensure that you're giving your brain the fats it needs

for optimal functioning?

 

One option is to eat fatty, cold-water fish two or three times a

week.

 

The healthiest varieties include alaskan salmon, trout, sardines

(water packed)herring, clams, scallops, and anchovies. Larger,

longer-lived species (such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel,

tilefish,

and very large tuna) can

contain dangerously high levels of mercury, and should not be eaten

at

all or be eaten no more than once a month.

 

Moderator's Note:

Mercury can be successfully annihilated from your system by

the comsumption of sufficient amounts of selenium both in your diet

and

supplement.

The recommended daily supplement dosage should not exceed 200 mcg.

www.drwhitaker.com

 

We are addicted to the things that " poison " us.

Now many doctors and others with no background in nutrition will say

that we can eat anything we want because the body's

digestive enzymes are designed to

" break the food down " .

 

This would be true if we were eating an 80% natural diet.

By that I mean a diet in which most foods contain within them the

*enzymes*

necessary for complete breakdown, without placing a burden on the

body's

own enzyme reserves.

 

The natural diet leaves behind no 'residue' from

the digestive activity.

 

That is 'normal' digestion.

 

But we don't have a natural diet. Most of us have a SAD diet - the

Standard American Diet. You know - burgers, fries, pizza, beer,

chips,

donuts, coke, etc.

These are non-foods, new to the human species in the past century.

 

Our digestive systems were never designed to break down these

chemical

bizzarros.

So it doesn't get digested - it just sits there, rotting....

 

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Medical Abstract Title:

--

 

Lowered Omega 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Serum Phospholipids

and Cholesteryl Esters of Depressed Patients

 

Author: Maes M, Christophe A, Delanghe J, Altamura C, Neels H,

Meltzer

HY Source: Psychiatry Research. 1999;(85):275-291.

 

Abstract:

 

Depression is associated with a lowered degree of esterification of

serum cholesterol, an increased C20:4 omega 6/C20:5 omega 3 ratio

and decreases in omega 3 fractions in fatty acids (FAs) or in the

red blood cell membrane.

 

The aims of the present study were to examine: (i) serum

phospholipid and cholesteryl ester compositions of individual

saturated fatty acids (SFAs),

monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs)

in major depressed patients vs. healthy volunteers;

(ii) the relationships between the above FAs and lowered serum zinc

(Zn), a marker of the inflammatory response in depression; and (iii)

the effects of subchronic treatment with antidepressants on FAs in

depression.

 

The composition of the FAs was determined by means of thin layer

chromatography in conjunction with gas chromatography. Lipid

concentrations were assayed by enzymatic colorimetric methods.

 

The oxidative potential index (OPI) of FAs was computed in 34 major

depressed inpatients and 14 normal volunteers. Major depression was

associated with:

 

increased MUFA and C22:5 omega 3 proportions

and increased C20:4 omega 6/C20:

5 omega 3 and C22:5 omega 6/C22:6 omega 3 ratios; lower C22:4

omega 6, C20:5 omega 3 and C22:5 omega 3 fractions in phospholipids;

lower C18:3 omega 3, C20:5 omega 3 and total (sigma) omega 3 FAs,

and

higher C20:4 omega 6/C20:5 omega 3 and sigma omega 6/ sigma omega 3

ratios in cholesteryl esters; lower serum concentrations of

phospholipids and cholesteryl esters; and a decreased OPI.

 

In depression, there were significant and positive correlations

between serum Zn and C20:

5 omega 3 and C22:6 omega 3 fractions in

phospholipids; and significant inverse correlations between serum Zn

and

the sigma omega 6/sigma omega 3, C20:4 omega 6/C20:5 omega 3, and

C22:5

omega 6/C22:6 omega 3 ratios in phospholipids.

 

There was no significant effect of antidepressive treatment on any

of the FAs.

 

The results show that, in major depression, there is a deficiency of

omega 3 PFUAs and a compensatory increase in MUFAs and C22:

omega 6 in phospholipids.

 

The results suggest that : (i) there is an abnormal metabolism of

omega 3 PUFAs in depression; (ii) the FA alterations in depression

are related to the inflammatory response in that illness;

and (iii) the disorders may persist despite successful(?)

antidepressant treatment.

 

www.enzy.com

-

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets