Nutrition & Depression
When we hear that someone is depressed, most of us have the tendency to trace this condition to an intense emotional event or lack thereof, hoping that they would get better after enough time and reflection. But rarely do we point a finger at nutritional choices and deficiencies that could very well be the actual culprit.
It's worth noting that negative patterns such as a craving for sweet foods, a habit of skipping meals, and having a poor appetite precede depression. Since these are already prevalent in our ordinary habits due to factors such as a demanding work schedule and due to influences of the media, it could be hard for us to attribute these as aspects that could lead to depression, which is why it's advisable to stick to reliable sources of information about nutrition.
Depression may be thought of as a vicious cycle in terms of dietary intake. It has been observed, for example, that individuals diagnosed with depression make poor dietary choices, and it is quite possible that these choices could very well exacerbate their condition. These choices may possibly combine with deficiencies that exist in the diet, as has been demonstrated in the case of omega-3 fatty acids. These acids have been observed to have an anti-depressant effect on the human mind, and regular consumption of foods containing this such as seafoods, nuts, and seeds have been found to elevate an individual's moods. It is also notable that the absence of a diet consisting of carbohydrates that are important for the release of serotonin and proteins that are necessary for producing amino acids are also factors that could result in developing symptoms of depression.
While constantly monitoring our consumption of food for the presence of these nutrients at every meal is not something most of us find practical, it's worth spending some time acquiring knowledge about the role that nutrition could play on our mental health just so that we could be mindful of what we eat.
Maybe it could make us hesitate next time when we're considering ordering takeout on Swiggy or chowing down on too many slices of cake. Or when we choose to skip a meal on the other extreme.
Maybe it could make us conscious of the fact that the things we put in our body affect not only our physical well-being, but also our psychological one.
Rao, T. S., Asha, M. R., Ramesh, B. N., & Rao, K. S. (2008). Understanding nutrition, depression and mental illnesses. Indian journal of psychiatry, 50(2), 77–82. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.42391
Depression may be thought of as a vicious cycle in terms of dietary intake. It has been observed, for example, that individuals diagnosed with depression make poor dietary choices, and it is quite possible that these choices could very well exacerbate their condition. These choices may possibly combine with deficiencies that exist in the diet, as has been demonstrated in the case of omega-3 fatty acids. These acids have been observed to have an anti-depressant effect on the human mind, and regular consumption of foods containing this such as seafoods, nuts, and seeds have been found to elevate an individual's moods. It is also notable that the absence of a diet consisting of carbohydrates that are important for the release of serotonin and proteins that are necessary for producing amino acids are also factors that could result in developing symptoms of depression.
While constantly monitoring our consumption of food for the presence of these nutrients at every meal is not something most of us find practical, it's worth spending some time acquiring knowledge about the role that nutrition could play on our mental health just so that we could be mindful of what we eat.
Maybe it could make us hesitate next time when we're considering ordering takeout on Swiggy or chowing down on too many slices of cake. Or when we choose to skip a meal on the other extreme.
Maybe it could make us conscious of the fact that the things we put in our body affect not only our physical well-being, but also our psychological one.
Rao, T. S., Asha, M. R., Ramesh, B. N., & Rao, K. S. (2008). Understanding nutrition, depression and mental illnesses. Indian journal of psychiatry, 50(2), 77–82. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.42391
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