Beat the blues with right food
It is normal to be depressed or feel sad when you experience some major disaster or have suffered a severe loss. However, if the feeling of sadness, despair and hopelessness stretch beyond two weeks, it becomes a potential sign of depression, and it should be addressed at the earliest. Clinical depression is a serious and often a disabling condition that can significantly affect a person’s work, interpersonal activities, sleeping pattern, eating habits, general health and ability to enjoy life.
THE DIET CONNECTION
Nutrition plays a vital role in the onset, severity, and duration of depression. While there is a strong genetic component that makes a person prone to depression, poor food choices, high levels of stress, alcohol abuse, lack of exercise and excess caffeine consumption also significantly contribute to onset of depression. Certain eating habits such as skipping meals, poor appetite, and a desire for sweets make one prone to the symptoms. People who follow low carbohydrate diets run the risk of feeling depressed.
TIPS TO DEAL WITH DEPRESSION
Begin your day with a nutritious breakfast that includes eggs, wholewheat bread and a glass of vegetable juice. Vegetarians can have a bowl of dal and freshly chopped vegetables Avoid sugar, fried food, maida, canned food and soft drinks, as they further add to the toxic overload Alcohol, coffee and tobacco can stress the body. They alter mind states and increase levels of internal stress Increase your protein intake, as it will help build up the neurotransmitters that keep our mood upbeat Vitamin B is important for mental health. Anxiety and depression can be reduced with vitamin B supplements and other dietary modifications Deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in the nervous system make you more vulnerable to depression. Therefore, it is important to include fish, nuts and flax seeds in your diet Ensure adequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin D, iron, magnesium, selenium, zinc and calcium Exercising is a powerful remedy, as the body’s natural endorphins (mood boosters) get elevated while working out Spend quality time with your family and friends Herbs like ginkgo and biloba help boost serotonin levels, which discourages depression.