Best ways to deal with depression

I asked Kelly Brogan, MD, to help educate us all and she was kind enough to share her expertise with the following post.

Best ways to deal with depression

The most widely used form of medication for depression is SSRIs, or selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitorswhich include drugs like Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil.

Once a patient is no longer taking the antidepressants, the symptoms will probably recur. In addition, antidepressant medications have serious side effects that can include suicidal thoughts, weight gain and personality changes.

A study conducted at the Ohio State University found that when cancer patients suffering from depression were asked if they would rather use individual counseling, antidepressant medications or support groups to address their symptoms, preference for individual counseling was significantly higher than the other options.

Eat a Healthy and Well-Balanced Diet You may be surprised to learn that your food choices can have a significant impact on your mood. Neurotransmitters are significantly influenced by the foods you put into your body.

Research including a study published in the journal Primary Care also shows that eating an anti-inflammatory diet, such as one that closely mimics the traditional Mediterranean dietcan reduce your risk for depression.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry examined the association between dietary patterns and depression. There were 3, participants who fell into one of two dietary categories. The first was those who ate a whole food diet, heavily loaded by vegetables, fruits and fish.

Second was those who ate processed foods. Researchers found that those who stuck to the whole food dietary pattern had lower odds of depression.

In contrast, high consumption of processed food was associated with an increased risk of developing depression. Of those those fatty acids, 33 percent belong to the omega-3 family. That means that you need to eat omega-3s in order for your brain to function properly.

Omega-3s benefit the brain by promoting communication processes and reducing inflammation. A diet high in fruits and vegetables increases your intake of vital nutrients that support your mood. A study published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry found that antioxidant therapy for 6 weeks significantly reduced both depression and anxiety scores in observed patients.

Healthy fats provide important vitamins and minerals that boost energy levels and mood. Plus, eating healthy fats helps to prevent free radical damage that may be associated with depression.

Eating protein is critical for supporting neurological function and balancing hormones. Protein foods also provide energy and boost our mood.

The best sources of protein include grass-fed beeflentils, wild fish, organic chicken, black beans, yogurt, free-range eggs, raw cheese and protein powder made from bone broth. Eating probiotic foods increases energy levels, supports cognitive function and promotes mental wellness.

Some of the top probiotic foods include kefir, yogurt, kombucha, miso, raw cheese and fermented vegetables. Although these foods are improving your mood for the moment, they are also leading to weight gain, issues with sleep, candida overgrowth and low energy levels, making your depression symptoms worse.

To reduce depressive symptoms by supporting the health of your brain and balancing your hormonesavoid eating packaged and processed foods that are made with refined carbohydrates and sugars.

Stick to real, whole foods that are in their natural forms. Studies in animals have found that pups born to mice on the ketogenic diet have less of a chance of developing depression, and putting animals in a model of depression on keto seems to improve some of the signs of depression.

Best ways to deal with depression

Fish Oil Omega-3 fats are critical for neurotransmitter function, an important component for emotional and physiological brain balance. Research published in CNS Neuroscience Therapeutics analyzed three studies that involved the treatment of depression with omega-3 fatty acids.

One study compared the benefits of omega-3 therapy to placebo therapy, another study tested the effects of omega-3s on children with depression and the third study was an open-label trial using EPA to treat bipolar depression.

Researchers found that omega-3s showed highly significant effects.Depression During Pregnancy: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment. Pregnancy is supposed to be one of the happiest times of a woman’s life, but for many women this is a time of confusion, fear, stress, and even depression.


Develop a "wellness toolbox" to deal with depression. Come up with a list of things that you can do for a quick mood boost. The more “tools” for coping with depression. Learn about the limitless benefits of meditation, & how precisely designed brainwave technology (EquiSync) helps enable a deep, super-pleasurable, extremely beneficial state of .



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