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Food Remedies for Depression

Depression not only affects our mental state but also our entire body, including the nervous system. Estimates are that 22 percent of Americans are depressed. This mental condition can be the result of stress, food allergies, chemical imbalances and even malnutrition. Treating depression requires balancing or increasing certain chemical activity in the brain through diet. Certain foods have proven effective in getting people out of depressive slumps. Try these food remedies to control depression.

  1. Tryptophan

    • Having a diet too low in foods with tryptophan can cause serotonin depletion. Serotonin is one of the main neurotransmitter in the brain. It helps relay messages from one area of the brain to another. Serotonin nerve circuits relay positive feelings like happiness, relaxation and confidence. The body makes serotonin by using tryptophan. If there is a shortage of tryptophan, people become depressed. You can eat foods that contain tryptophan like salmon, turkey, soy products, lamb, chicken, eggs and tuna. Trypophan supplements are available at most health-food stores. Many have found relief from insomnia by taking a capsule before bed.

    Folic Acid

    • Folic acid is used by the body to make serotonin. By having a diet low in foods containing folic acid, you can cause depression. Folic-acid-containing foods include broccoli, spinach, strawberries, lentils, chickpeas, melons and asparagus. Fill your diet with these foods for increased serotonin production.

    Food Allergies

    • Food allergies can change your hormonal balance and brain chemistry. Many who have dairy and gluten allergies have found their depression lifted after abstaining from allergy-causing foods. Schedule a skin- or blood-allergy test with your doctor. One of the best ways to detect a food allergy is to go on a food elimination diet. Take out the most common food allergens such as gluten, dairy, soy and corn for one month. Introduce one group every week, and keep a journal detailing your symptoms. You might find that your depression is actually your body's response to an allergy.

    Diet Plan

    • Stick to a diet full of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, plant-based proteins and low-fat dairy. Avoid all sugar. That means fruit juices, honey and molasses. Sugar in diets leads to major blood-sugar crashes, which promote symptoms of fatigue and unhappiness. Have instead a fruit salad or low-fat frozen yogurt. Do not eat any foods full of saturated fats. Saturated fats will leave you feeling sluggish. When saturated fats inhibit blood flow, blood vessels, arteries and blood cells become blocked. Bad circulation prevents the brain from normal functioning. Refrain from drinking alcohol. Depression symptoms are known for becoming exacerbated by drinking. Eat small meals throughout the day. Many people with hypoglycemia will be depressed until they manage their blood-sugar fluctuations.

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