How to Treat Depression With Diet

Recent studies have shown that various types of depression, including clinical depression, may be caused or aggravated by diet. Reduced amounts of magnesium and fatty acids can contribute to feelings of depression, and consuming large amounts of heavily processed foods may also be a factor. By consulting with a mental health professional, you can treat depression by making adjustments to your diet.

Things You'll Need

• Foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids
• Magnesium supplements
• Mental health care professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist
• Omega-3 supplements

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Instructions

Treat Depression With Diet

• 1

  Eat foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to raise serotonin levels in the brain, which may reduce the feelings of depression. These foods include nuts, grains, seeds, beans and deep-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring. This is a more natural alternative to antidepressants, which also raise serotonin levels.

• 2

  Take an Omega-3 supplement to help you maintain higher serotonin levels in your brain. Choose a supplement that is made from completely natural and organic substances, such as flaxseed oil or fish oil, so that they may be more easily absorbed into the body.

• 3

  Treat depression by adding foods that are high in magnesium to your diet, since magnesium deficiencies have also been recently linked to this condition. Foods that are high in magnesium include fish, barley, artichokes, buckwheat, oat bran, almonds, cashews, pine nuts, black beans, white beans, cornmeal, spinach, tomatoes, pumpkins seeds and soybeans. You can also take a magnesium supplement as well, either isolated or as part of a multi-vitamin formula.

• 4

  Reduce the amount of stimulants in your diet, such as caffeine and high amounts of sugar. While these substances may provide a temporary mood lift and an increased amount of energy, they may also cause insomnia, disruptive sleep patterns, irritability and moodiness that can easily aggravate the symptoms of depression.

• 5

  Avoid heavily processed foods that contain artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, bleached flour and other types of chemicals in order to treat depression. Many of these substances have been shown to affect overall health and may be instrumental in causing depression. Stick to foods that are made from whole, natural and preferably organic ingredients.

• 6

  Check with your mental health professional to monitor your condition as you treat your depression with diet.