Home > Depression > Depression Treatment: Nutrition

Depression:
What is it?

Overview
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis

Depression
Treatment:
What Can I Do?

Medicine
Herbs
Nutrition
Depression and SAM-E
Depression and Omega-3s
Depression and Tryptophan (5-HTP)
Depression and Vitamin D
Depression and Folate
Body
Mind
Other


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Depression Treatment: Nutrition

Overview

It is commonly believed that nutritional imbalances can lead to the manifestation of depression. A new generation of health providers are moving away from focusing on the diagnosis of depression and instead address how what we "feed" are bodies can either exacerbate an individual's symptoms of or conversely help cure their depression. Consequently, depression is seen as a set of symptoms caused by toxicity and systemic imbalances in the body.1

Understanding the underlying causes of an individual's depression can help a practitioner personalize their nutritional therapy. The treatments are then related to the the underlying cause or imbalance that has been identified.

Depression and Toxic Foods

There are certain foods that create a high level of toxicity in the body and mind. Eliminating these foods can decrease the toxicity that can reduce optimal brain function.

  • High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) and other forms of refined sugar can increase inflammation of the brain and need be eliminated. These sugars reacts with proteins and forms little crusts called AGEs (advanced glycation end products) which can damage brain cells and tissue.
  • Trans or Hydrogenated Fats are found in many processed foods and likewise need be eliminated. They damage cells and interrupt normal brain function.2
  • Caffeine modifies dopamine and epinephrine levels, inhibits the breakdown of AMP (used for intracellular signaling) and sensitizes receptor cites all of which can cause both depression and anxiety symptoms.7
  • Alcohol

A recent study notes the that fructose malabsorption might play a role in early signs of mental depression.5 For individuals who have problems absorbing fructose, they should aim to consume 0-25g of fructose per sitting and avoid foods containing high levels of fructose, HFCS, sorbitol and short-chain fatty acids (i.e. fermentable-olio-di-monosaccharides and polyols or FODMAPs).6

Treatments

The Effect of SAM-E on Depression

SAM-e works by enabling the production of glutathione, which is a critical antioxidant that protects the body against free radical damage. More importantly, it is a crucial regulator of methylation i...

Read more about Depression and SAM-E.

The Effect of Omega-3s on Depression

A total of 60% of the human brain is made out of fat. Omega-3 fatty acids in the brain regulate serotonin synthesis, release and re-uptake. Since the body cannot make this essential fatty acid alone,...

Read more about Depression and Omega-3s.

The Effect of Tryptophan (5-HTP) on Depression

Tryptophan is ingested through food or supplements. Once in the body, tryptophan synthesizes serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for regulating mood, appetite...

Read more about Depression and Tryptophan (5-HTP).

The Effect of Vitamin D on Depression

Wrongly termed a vitamin, vitamin D is actually what is known as a precursor hormone. The metabolic product of vitamin D, the hormone calcitriol, affects the key biological functions of over 2000 gen...

Read more about Depression and Vitamin D.

The Effect of Folate on Depression

Folate is a B-vitamin and, like all vitamins, cannot be synthesized by the body alone but must come from diet or supplements.2 Folate attained through diet (like leafy green vegetables, legumes, bean...

Read more about Depression and Folate.

References

  1. The Ultramind Solution, Mark Hyman, MD, 2009
  2. Dietary fats and the risk of incident Alzheimer disease, Morris M.C. et all, 2003
  3. Life Extension, "A Drug-Free Cure for Depression": James S. Gordon, Donna Caruso
  4. Morris, M.S., Fava, M., Jacques, P.F., Selhub, J. & Rosenberg, I.H. (2003). Depression and folate status in the US population. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 72(2) 80-7. Retrieved June 1, 2010 from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 305028821).
  5. Ledochowski, M., perner-Unterweger, B., Wildner, B. and Fuchs. D.(1998) Fructose Malabsorption is Associated with Early Signs of Mental Depression. European Journal of Medical Research 17;3(6) 295-8. Retrieved from PubMed-ID: 9620891
  6. http://www.healthhype.com/low-fructose-diet-in-fructose-malabsorption.html
  7. Greden, JF, Fontaine, P, Lubetsky, M. & Chamberlin, K (1978). Anxiety and depression associated with caffeinism among psychiatric inpatients. American Journal of Psychiatry 135, 963-966