Depression is a condition that we’ve been quick to treat with chemicals, instead of considering what kind of food our brains really need. There is now a great deal of research to support the fact that a natural holistic cure to depression can be achieved by diet alone. A fresh vegetarian diet made up of whole foods can be enough to turn depression around, without having to resort to pharmaceutical drugs. After all, your brain needs nutrients not chemicals. Diet is an excellent starting point from which to address the problem of depression, and start building a sense of wellbeing in the sufferer.
A recent publication summarising the results of 11 scientific studies into unipolar depression found a distinctive link between depression and diet. Researchers noted a direct association between improvement in depression levels and a healthy eating programme based on monounsaturated fats, olive oil, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and pulses. Further studies claimed high rates of dietary influence on depression, with some claims as high as a third less risk of depression for those on a whole foods diet. Whole foods are a vital part of any healthy eating programme and give the brain what it needs because the nutrients are complete. For the brain’s neurotransmitters to function properly they have a daily requirement of the right B vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, all of which are easily provided by a vegetarian whole foods diet.
The best way to prove this theory is to test it for yourself. Take notice of how you feel after a healthy meal, and compare it to how you feel after fast-food. Good nutrition means a range of nutrients and a steady, slow release of energy. The lifestyle evils of our modern world, on the other hand, include foods that give you an instant sugar high lacking in proper nutrition. The worst of it is that comfort eating for depression will usually take the form of over-eating exactly the kind of foods that are so bad for you! Processed foods, red meat, caffeine and alcohol form a very big influence on both your body and mind, and come with a whole host of health risks. Though it is sometimes hard, you will achieve great wellness benefits from adjusting your habits to the things your body needs. It is vital to address the lifestyle aspects of depression and approach the problem from all fronts, instead of treating it as a simple ‘mental health’ condition.
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