Can Your Diet Help With Depression?

Introduction

There’s no worse feeling than depression. No matter what you do or how hard you try, you find it difficult to break free of the chains that are seemingly holding you back.

While depression is serious, it’s important to always remember this: there are steps you can take to break free from the hold that it has on you.

It’s estimated that 6.7 percent of American adults suffer from depression. Some have a more severe condition than others, but there are millions upon millions of people in the same (or similar) situation as you.

Fighting Depression Through Your Diet

There’s no simple answer as to how to best manage depression. Furthermore, there’s no one size fits all approach. What works for the next person may not work for you, and vice versa.

For that reason, it’s imperative that you keep an open mind. Maybe you start by asking your doctor what’s TMS treatment and how can it help me? From there, you talk to your dietician about what you’re eating and whether or not that could be contributing to your mental state.

There’s no right or wrong way to eat, in regards to fighting depression, but there are things you can add to your diet to help your cause.

Here are some things to keep in mind…

Fight Back Against Free Radicals

Did you know that the human body makes free radicals? Did you also know that these result in cell damage and again among other issues?

With your brain and mental health at risk, you should look into the many types of foods you can eat to slow down the destructive nature of free radicals.

Here are some of the foods that can help with this:

• • Foods rich in beta-carotene, such as carrots, pumpkin, spinach, and sweet potato
  • Foods with vitamin C, such as broccoli, kiwi, oranges, peppers, and tomato
  • Foods with vitamin E, such as vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, and wheat germ

You don’t have to strictly eat the foods listed above, but you should at least consider adding some of them to your regular diet. You can add them to the vegan breakfast meals you prepare, smoothies, late-night snacks, and more.

Smartly Selected Carbs can Help

It goes without saying that you don’t want to load up on carbohydrates, day after day, as it can harm your overall physical level of health. However, when you do this smartly, you can choose carbs that improve your mental state.

Did you know that carbs are linked to serotonin, a brain chemical that can boost your mood?

Introduce healthy carbs into your diet, such as whole grains. This is in contrast to sugary foods, such as cookies and other desserts.

Once you make a list of the types of foods that you like to eat, you can then consider which ones have the right types of carbs. Then, experiment with those to see if any of them help improve your mood. You may be surprised at what you find.

Protein

There are a variety of foods that contain tryptophan, an amino acid that may help the human body make serotonin.

When you need to clear your mind, pick yourself up, and boost your energy level, foods that are rich in protein—such as chicken, tuna, and turkey—should make their way onto your plate.

There are other excellent sources of healthy proteins, including but not limited to lean beef, poultry, and yogurt.

With so many options, you should be able to find a way to work protein into every meal (and snack) that you eat.

Track Your Progress

You never know what will and won’t work for you in regards to your diet, so it’s critical that you track your progress. Doing so increases the likelihood of finding something that boosts your mental state.

Should you require any assistance, consult with your primary care physician and/or a dietician. This can go a long way in helping you better understand the types of foods you can eat to fight depression.

What do you eat and/or drink when you’re dealing with depression? Is there anything in particular that has helped you in the past? What is your go-to meal when you’re feeling down and out?