Nutritional Causes of Depression

Depression is a psychological state whose symptoms include feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, gloom, inadequacy, pessimism and despondency. Some people feel acute feelings of blame, are overwhelmed and have a continuing sense of exhaustion. Others withdraw or have strong thoughts of death and suicide. Frequently a depressed person will have trouble sleeping and experience weight changes. She may become irritable and have difficulty concentrating. Depressive states can be so severe that they require clinical intervention. Depression goes beyond feeling sad or upset over the loss of a loved one or a strong disturbance in a person's life. When these symptoms persist for several weeks and disrupt the ability of the person to function, then it becomes likely that the person is depressed.

Causes

• There are many causes of depression, and the illness can affect anyone. More than 17 million Americans experience some form of depression each year. Not all depressions are based on underlying issues such as what a person thinks or feels or aspects of her childhood. One of the causes of depression can be nutrition.

Significance

• This is one of the reasons why some treatments are not effective over the long term--they are addressing surface symptoms without uncovering the underlying mechanism that is causing the problem. Depression can be caused by a biochemical abnormality. This type of depression is called endogenous depression.

Neurotransmitters

• According to psychologist Jurriaan Plesman in her article "Depression--A Nutritional Disorder," the brain uses 60 to 70 percent of the body's energy, all of which is created from glucose (sugars), which is obtained from the food we eat. The brain uses this energy to regulate the chemistry of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is one of the substances that contribute to feeling optimistic, joyful and hopeful. If the brain has insufficient energy to transform the neurotransmitters, then an imbalance is created. For instance, the body needs serotonin to produce melatonin, the chemical that contributes to sleep.

Obesity

• Some people have difficulties absorbing sugars. The body, knowing it needs more sugars for its energy processes, will continue to prompt the person to eat items high in sugars. That person may then store the sugars as fat while the brain remains in a state of malnutrition. Over time this may cause obesity, and the weight gain and the mental stress that accompanies it may cause depression. This forms a cycle where the withdrawal of medications for depression, over time, may reveal that the underlying cause has not been addressed, even when the individual has completed a comprehensive drug and therapy process.

Malnutrition

• Excessive sugar consumption can actually promote the depressive state in that the immune system may identify the excess sugars as toxins which can shut down the receptors for insulin. Insulin controls how many sugars and other nutrients are allowed to pass through cell walls. This state of cellular malnutrition sets off stress systems as the body tries to overcome the resistance in order to prevent cell death. These stress hormones are responsible for symptoms of a wide variety of mental health problems, including depression. This type of malnutrition is called hypoglycemia and it is treated nutritionally with a specific type of diet.

Recommendations

• Persons who believe their depression may have a nutritional basis should stay on their depression medications and ask for a consult with a clinical nutritionist who specializes in hypoglycemia.