Nutritional Aspect of Depression/Anxiety

[dulaney0330]

I have realized that I am biochemically vulnerable to anxiety/depression more than I thought I was. Eating healthy and exercise are very important to me and I am making an effort to eat healthier, especially around my menstrual cycle.

I was wondering how many of you out there who struggle with anxiety/depression have certain foods that help during those times?

Bananas, tuna, whole grains, and brown rice is recommended.

Anything that works for you? Herbal Supplement?

Thanks!

[Frankeith]

I have the same problem as you; however, since I started going to the gym and cut down on sugar I feel much better; the effects are not totally removed though, but for the most part, I am usually quite energetic and in a positive mood since I have been exercising and cutting down on sugar.
I have also heard that sunflower seeds help, I usually take a small chunk of them a day.
Best of luck to you.

[JSB]

I don't think there's one set of recommendations that will work for everyone, but the following should help most people: reduce or eliminate sugar, take a molecularly distilled fish oil supplement, eat lots of fruit and veggies, and consider a whole food multivitamin supplement.

Some people may also want to try magnesium supplementation (avoid magnesium aspartate).

Other supplements that may help some people are 5HTP and SAM-e.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Originally Posted by JSB

Some people may also want to try magnesium supplementation (avoid magnesium aspartate).

Other supplements that may help some people are 5HTP and SAM-e.

I've heard that 5HTP and SAM-e help as well as St. John's Wort, but I've never tried them. One of the best supplements to guard against depression is animal based Omega-3 fatty acids. Just make sure it is a high quality fish or krill oil. Also, sun exposure helps wonderfully against depression. Just remember never to get burned.

[Andrew Gubb]

I think I heard somewhere that starchy foods are antidepressant. I notice that potatoes give me a feeling of inner warmth when I eat them, maybe they're slightly psychoactive, or maybe it's the starch, I don't know, but when I'm down I love potatoes. Intuitively I feel that rosemary and lavender (they're the same family of herbs) are good too. Try potatoes fried in olive oil with rosemary. Not the healthiest thing in the world, but very comforting. You could boil or steam them for better health, and also look to eat a large proportion of skin to flesh (by buying smaller potatoes or even throwing away part of the flesh) as the skin has huge amounts of minerals and according to Edgar Cayce is one of the best things you can eat.

My other comfort foods are cashew nuts and mangoes.

[dulaney0330]

thanks for the suggestions.

Anti-depressants never helped and I would like to go natural as much as I can.

[Excellent Lodestar]

L-Tyrosine increases neurotransmitter levels in the body which may have effects in enhancing mood, and relieving depression.Co-factors are B-6 and vitamin C

[ginkgo]

This webpage has lots of information that deals with this subject with info from many sources. It has information from a book that suggests that people eat a potato before they go to bed. It explains why it works.

It has the information on a complete diet by a psychiatrist. It has information on psychiatrists using fasting for depression. It has information of the lifestyle that a minister used to cure his severe depression and anxiety.

Also it mentions things that have cured depression like omega-3 fatty acids. The principle is that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. So it does not matter how many things that you do right. You must make sure that nothing is being done wrong.

[Miia]

I suggest drinking Kefir (sour milk basically) (you can`t get it in some countries though...).
I have all my life felt that kefir comforts me, specially when eaten with a porridge of buckwheat Potatoes fried with olive oil and rosemary are very comforting too! (interesting isn`t it ). I find the Mediterranean salads with olive oil, salad, tomatoes and feta cheese really really good also.

Back to kefir -
Kefir means "feel good" in Turkish. It`s considered a miracle food since it can cure so many dis-eases... it`s has natural sedatives in it and it boosts the production of serotonin (the feel-good-hormone) amongst other things.

(warning, the following might make you laugh but in my opinion there is some truth to it)

Here are some of the known kefir health benefits:

1. Strongest natural remedy against any allergy
2. Strongest natural antibiotic without side effects
3. Treats liver disease
4. Treats gallbladder, dissolves gall bladder stones
5. Clears the body of salts, heavy metals, radionuclides, and alcoholic products
6. Cleans the body of chemical antibiotics
7. Treats kidney stones
8. Good bacteria in kefir are able to fight off pathogenic microorganisms
9. Lowers level of LDL cholesterol
10. Cleans the gastrointestinal tract
11. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
12. Treats gastritis
13. Treats pancreatitis
14. Treats ulcers
15. Prevents and treats colon cancer
16. Improves digestion
17. Improves the body functions
18. Improves the human immune system
19. Cures Candida
20. Cures hypertension
21. Stops growth of cancer cells
22. Speeds up healing process
23. Treats psoriasis
24. Treats eczema
25. Treats inflammatory diseases
26. Reduces size of tumors
27. Treats heart disease
28. Reverses calcination of blood vessels
29. Clears the blood vessels
30. Boosts the bodies energy
31. Natural “feel good” food
32. Treats lung infections
33. Normalizes metabolism thereby can be used as for weight loss
34. Cures acne
35. Has anti-oxidants and anti-aging properties
36. Nourishes hair
37. Treats the gum disease parodontosis
38. Lessens effects of medicines
39. Replenishes body of good bacteria after antibiotic
40. Balances the microflora of the body’s digestive system
41. Regulates blood pressure
42. Lowers blood sugar
43. Lowers blood lipid levels or cholesterol and fatty acids
44. Treats diarrhea
45. Treats constipation
46. Promotes bowel movement
47. Anti-stress properties
48. Treats sleeping disorders
49. Treats depression
50. Treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
51. Improves the brains neuro functions like reflexes, memory retention, attention, the five senses
52. Reduces flatulence
53. Lactic acid fermentation enhances the digestibility of milk based foods. People who cannot otherwise digest milk, can enjoy the vital calcium rich Kefir.
54. Treats yeast infection
55. Eliminates vaginal odors
56. Cures wrinkles
57. Treats arthritis
58. Treats colitis
59. Treats gout
60. Cures migranes
61. Treats rheumatism
62. Treats other stomach disorders
63. Detoxifies the body
64. Improves protein quality of milk, and enhances absorption and digestion
65. Good bacteria manufacture B vitamins such as B3, B6 and folic acid.
66. Aids in treating tuberculosis
67. Treats stomach cramps
68. Treats chronic intestine infections
69. Treats liver infections
70. Treats asthma
71. Treats bronchitis
72. Treats sclerosis
73. Treats anemia
74. Treats hepatitis
75. Healing effects on catarrh, digestive nodes, astral nodes, bilious complaints
76. Treats leaky gut syndrome
77. Prevents metastasis
78. Cures bad morning breath

[PizzaSlap]

My mood is highly affected by foods I eat. My best results come when I totally remove gluten (wheat products), dairy and all junk food including salad dressing, candy, pop, etc.... When that's done I do eat mostly raw fruit, veggies, [canned] tuna and salmon. Also, I'll take a 1000IU vitamin D pill on days when I don't get sunlight. Sometimes calcium, too.

WHEN I can keep this up, it totally eliminates my depression symptoms. It feels really good actually, and I have experienced some of the euphoric sensations that Steve describes in his raw foods experiments. I could probably step it up a notch by using fresh fish.

[The Big D]

Originally Posted by Frankeith

I have the same problem as you; however, since I started going to the gym and cut down on sugar I feel much better; the effects are not totally removed though, but for the most part, I am usually quite energetic and in a positive mood since I have been exercising and cutting down on sugar.

Bingo - that there's good advice.

[ginkgo]

Not enough B vitamins or omega-3 oil can cause depression. People have been cured of it by taking omega-3 supplements. It is pure fat. So a fat can cure depression. 60% of your brain is fat. Brain doctor, Daniel Amen, M.D., says that when people call you fathead, they are correct.