ballochroy.com

While many health care workers are aware that there is a link between some physical illnesses & nutritional deficiencies, not many people are aware that mental disorders also have a nutrition link. Most believe that mental illnesses are strictly emotional & have no metabolic or biochemical association. Nutrition, how ever, may play a greater role in depression than is widely known. Some researchers believe that nutrition can play a key role, both in the onset, severity, & duration of depression, including daily mood swings.

Many of the same food patterns that come before depression are the same food patterns that occur during depression. These patterns may include skipping meals, poor appetite, & a desire for sweets. People who are rigid in their eating & follow very low carbohydrate diets also may be at risk for developing symptoms of depression, because the brain neurotransmitters (tryptophan & serotonin), that are involved in modulating depression are obtained from carbohydrate rich foods. Almost all anti-depressant drugs work by increasing the levels of these brain neurotransmitters.

Which foods affect mood & cause depression isn’t fully known but some individual persons are more sensitive than others. In general, foods such as refined carbohydrates (simple sugars, chocolates) provide an immediate but temporary mood improvement. These foods have to be eaten continuously to sustain the mood elevation. This may not actually be practical & safe in the long run as one can easily gain weight & develop heart disease. Other options are to eat complex carbohydrates such as cereals, pasta, fruits & vegetables. Although, not as appetizing as chocolates, they’re more likely to have a more prolonged mood elevating benefit.

Depression has long been known to be associated with deficiencies in neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine & noradrenaline. The amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine & methionine are often help-ful in treating depression. Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin & is usually converted to serotonin, inducing sleep & tranquility & in *some* cases restoring serotonin levels to diminish depression. Tyrosine isn’t an essential amino acid since tyrosine can be made from the amino acid phenylalanine. Tyrosine & possibly its precursor phenylalanine are converted into dopamine & norepinephrine. Methionine combines with ATP to make S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which facilitates the manufacture of brain neurotransmitters.

As consumption of omega-3 fatty acids from fish & other sources has declined in most populations, the incidence of major depression has increased. Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids containing 1.5 to 4 g of EPA per day should be sufficient for mood elevation in depressed patients. Though, high doses of omega-3 supplements may not actually be suitable for some patients such as those on anti-clotting drugs.

Other nutritional deficiencies can contribute to depression. Notably, vitamin B, folate & magnesium deficiencies have been connected to depression. It has been reported that rapid recovery from major depression is possible in less than 7 days by treating patients with 125-300 mg of magnesium (as glycinate & taurinate) with each meal & at bedtime.

Note: Statements in this article may not actually be approved by the FDA, & should not actually be actually considered as professional medical advice.

? 2007, Kathy Burns-Millyard. There’re many safe & effective, natural herbal remedies for Depression. You will find many of the best ones at http://www.amoh.org/Depression/, plus you will find a variety of herbal & natural or simple remedies for many other chronic health conditions too, so be sure to click the link & visit right now!

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.