| Depression self help is about eating and drinking | | | | Eating complex carbohydratesstimulates the pancreas |
| correctly. It seemsobvious to state it, but our tissue, | | | | to produce insulin. This permits the amino acidtripofan |
| bones, vital organs and brain areall made up of what | | | | to synthesize serotonin, which is the key element |
| we eat and drink. As the business computer | | | | required forcombating depression. Amongst those |
| sayinggoes, "rubbish in, rubbish out". You need to find | | | | foods with high tripofan contentare turkey, natural |
| out what you SHOULD beeating. Find about your body | | | | yoghurt, almonds and sunflower seeds. |
| type and the sorts of food you SHOULD beeating. | | | | Contrary to what most people might expect, a |
| The Chinese and Indians have been benefiting from | | | | protein-rich diet does notfavor a depression sufferer. |
| such studiesfor centuries. Are you aware of them? | | | | Protein breaks down serotonin. Simplecarbohydrates |
| A test : which are the best foods for your depression | | | | such as pizza, macaroni and cheese will give us a |
| amongst theseitems, regardless of your body type: - | | | | quick fixin stressful moments but are harmful in the |
| parsley, almonds, fillet steak,cheese or mushrooms? | | | | long run. Complex orunrefined carbohydrates are |
| Answer, best is parsley, then almonds, thenmushrooms, | | | | desirable as they provide longer reserves ofenergy, |
| cheese and fillet steak. Did you know that? If you eat | | | | containing high levels of fiber, minerals and other |
| the wrongcombination of foods for your depression, | | | | nutrients. |
| will you know it? Will you beaware of the harmful | | | | Helpful foods include pumpkin, carrots, mixed grain |
| effects? Has your psychiatrist ever advised you | | | | cereals, breads and riceand tomatoes, amongst many |
| aboutthis? It is very likely not. It would be wise to find | | | | others. |
| out. | | | | As critical as "what" we eat is "how" and "when" we |
| Why not find out and make that important life change | | | | eat. We need to eathearty breakfasts and if possible |
| that could makeall the difference to how you feel. | | | | take healthy snacks all day, as ifstoking a coal burner |
| Investigate the options available fortaking food | | | | every 2 hours. Snacks may include fruit, |
| supplements and vitamins. Certain food supplements | | | | naturalyoghurts, almonds, celery sticks. Under no |
| andvitamins could be critical for your recovery and | | | | circumstances should yousuccumb to the vending |
| avoidance of relapse. | | | | machine, with crisps, soft drinks etc. |
| The relation between depression and diet is highly | | | | We need to chew our food well, at least 25 times per |
| complex and beyondthe scope of these pages, | | | | mouthful. We weregiven teeth not to improve our |
| however, stated in very simple terms: | | | | smile but as tools in the first andcritical stage of |
| 1. Serotonin (and other substances) is a chemical which | | | | digestion, which takes place in the mouth. Our final |
| facilitatesbrain impulses necessary for our normal | | | | mealof the day should be light and no later than 7pm. If |
| functioning. | | | | we are depressed,our mission is to eat consistently in |
| 2. When we are under stress or depressed, our brain | | | | order to generate serotoninevenly throughout the day. |
| requires andconsumes more serotonin. Depressed | | | | If we eat a bacon sandwich for breakfast at |
| people have a deficiency of serotonin andhence need | | | | 7.30am, skip lunch, eat a double slice of salami pizza at |
| to produce more. | | | | 5pm and have alarge dinner with dessert at 10pm |
| 3. Since serotonin is partially created by eating | | | | before going to bed at 10.30, we aremaking ourselves |
| complexcarbohydrates, our body begins to crave | | | | direct candidates for obesity, heart disease, |
| foods rich in these carbohydrates. | | | | cancer,recurring depression and other mental illnesses. |
| 4. People who consume a disproportionate volume of | | | | In addition to greatly improving what, when and how |
| fat and proteinexpose themselves to higher risk of | | | | we eat, there isgrowing evidence that natural |
| depression, since these foods canactually decrease | | | | substances help to relieve the symptoms |
| the levels of serotonin. | | | | ofdepression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and mania. The |
| 5. When we consume sugar-rich foods or soft drinks | | | | most highlyregarded is St John's Wort. |
| we achieve shortterm satisfaction but in the long term | | | | There is also a growing body of evidence |
| we are breaking down the nutrientsin our system | | | | demonstrating that foods richin Omega-3 fatty acids |
| which help us fight stressors | | | | can have as useful an effect on anxiety,depression |
| If you eat correctly you will have more energy, you will | | | | and bipolar disorder than antidepressant medicines |
| lose weightand have far higher resistance to stress. | | | | themselves. |