Tuesday , 19 March 2024

How Poor Diet Can Contribute to Depression

Depression can be a serious issue and many people do suffer from it. What individuals don’t understand is that diet can play a large role in your depression.

It’s been indicated in various studies that certain diets can reduce depression or even lower your risk of developing depression in the first place.

Nutrients

For proper brain functioning, the brain needs certain nutrients. When you’re not getting a balanced diet, this can put you at an increased risk for depression because your brain is simply not working as well as it should. Diets that are rich in Whole Foods have been shown to reduce your risk of developing depression. Other Studies have indicated that if your diet is high in processed foods and junk food then your chances of developing depression are going to be increased. Many processed foods have additives and other chemicals that can interfere with proper brain functioning.

Many processed foods have their original nutrition stripped away from the food which can contribute two issues with depression because you’re simply not getting the nutrients that your brain needs

Researchers know that nutrients such as essential fatty acids, magnesium, B12, and B6, create new transmitters in the brain and that if you have a deficiency in these nutrients then your brain can develop a chemical imbalance. When your brain suffers from a chemical in balance and you have less neurotransmitters then depression can be a result of this imbalance.

It has been shown through studies that a poor diet is just as damaging to your brain in mental health as your physical health.

One study done through the American Journal of Psychiatry looked at a diet high in fish, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and then compare this to a diet high in processed foods.

Those in the study that ate a Whole Foods diet had around a 1/3 lower risk of t developing depression issues within their brain.

Another study from the American Journal of Psychiatry Looked at a Whole Foods diet and then one that was full of processed foods and concluded after 5 years that the diet that is rich in processed foods increases the risk of depression and that those that eat a whole foods diet decrease the risk of depression.

eat a diet rich in essential fat such as Omega-3 which we find in fish, flax, walnuts, tuna, olive oil, avocado, and similar foods can help protect the brain from depression because these essential fats are necessary for the proper functioning of the brain.

When you are nutrient deficient in these essential fats, then you can have brain problems such as depression.

Depression and Diet

There are other issues that can cause depression, it has been shown that a proper diet can help reduce your risk of developing depression.

If you feel you have depression or are at a risk for it, it’s important to see a physician so that the proper treatment can be given to you and that your depression can be addressed before it gets worse.

This function has been disabled for RT.