November 18, 2009

Depression and Diet – Diet to Cure Depression – Diet Affect Depression

Posted in Category : Depression

Depression is an ailment that is highly pervasive in this fast moving and immensely competitive era. Depression is not just a feeling of sadness; rather it is a severe disorder which may be caused by several factors. These factors include:

  • Biological factors like hormonal imbalances, genetic factors and imbalances in substances like neurotransmitters.
  • Psychological and social factors which generally include personality and attitude related issues.

Depression is an abstract sensation and is generally seen from various angles including the Juvenile angle (depression in kids), Feminine angle (Depression in women), and Masculine angle (Depression in men).

As such, depression is not restricted to any age group or sex and is rampant among people of all groups. The symptoms of depression are loss of appetite and weight, lack of concentration, weakening of memory, changes in the normal sleep cycle, and loss of interest in day-to-day activities.

Anxiety and Depression Diet

A dietary regime for depression must include the following:

  • You should consume a lot of fresh and green vegetables like celery, broccoli, spinach and cabbage to relieve depression.
  • You must not consume processed and canned food on account of their low nutritive value and the presence of excessive amounts of certain substances like sugar and salt.
  • You must also restrict the consumption of poultry foods in your diet.
  • An intake of essential fatty acids like Omega-3 is highly recommended for anxiety prone patients and so foods like almond, walnut and flax seeds must be included in their diet.
  • The consumption of foods rich in Vitamin C like blueberries, melon, strawberries and orange, and foods rich in Vitamin E like margarine, vegetable oil and wheat germ is recommended for depression prone patients.
  • An intake of protein rich foods like cheese, lean beef, beans yogurt, and peas, and low fat cheese is recommended to treat depression.
  • The consumption of fruits must be enhanced.

These are some of the alterations in diet to combat depression. You may also try these home remedies to cure depression:

  • The consumption of a teaspoon of powdered dry asparagus every day is recommended to cure depression.
  • An intake of powdered cardamom seeds in boiled water is also advised to relieve depression.
  • Soak your feet in warm water with leaves of rosemary, chlorine, soap in order to alleviate depression.
  • The consumption of an apple with honey and milk is another good remedy to assuage the symptoms of depression.