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Omega-3s Blast Away Blues

The Standard American Diet (SAD) has an apt abbrievation.  Our typical diet wipes out our bodies’ supply of omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial to brain function and an elevated mood. Depression rates are at an all-time high, but here’s my question: given our omega-3-poor diet, why aren’t more of us depressed? 1. Omega-3s are the body’s super substance. The fat in our nerve tissue is made up of 50% of...

Slam Depression with SAM-e

Popping pills to cure depression isn’t a new idea. People have been Listening to Prozac since for decades. But many folks find relief without the involvement of a prescription pad; they take over-the-counter SAM-E ((S-adenosylmethionine). 1. SAM-e is involved in more than 35 biochemical processes. SAM-e is a naturally-occurring compound found throughout the human body, with high concentrations in the liver, adrenal glands...

Does Your Brain Need to Sun-Bathe?

Sometimes the best way to heal from depression is to turn straight to Mother Nature herself. Enjoying a little sun to get some vitamin D is a perfect example. 1.Vitamin D is the “sunshine vitamin.” Why? Because your body makes its own vitamin D when skin is exposed to sunlight. This is one way in which the body increases levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, a key player in mood elevation. And research shows that that...

Olive Oil Blasts Away the Blahs

Olive oil is a great health booster. A monounsaturated fat, it is one of the good guys in your dietary arsenal and worthy of being enjoyed every single day. Apart from tasting absolutely delicious and lifting the spirits with its color and aroma, olive oil is a superantioxidant. It contains phytonutrients that directly clean up free radicals released as a result of oxidative damage from cellular metabolism. Free radicals...

Reach for Olive Oil Gold to Soothe Depression

Depressed? Olive oil is a dose of liquid sunshine that will soon lift your sagging spirits. Research shows that olive oil helps prevent inflammatory diseases and conditions such as depression. A diet rich in olive oil has enhanced the health and mental function of Mediterranean peoples for thousands of years. Now, people around the globe with depression, as well as other chronic health problems, can greatly benefit from the...

Depression Glossary

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that helps you feel energized, stimulated and focused. It’s also responsible for regulating communication between nerve cells. Amino acids are the building blocks of your body’s protein. There are 8 essential amino acids that must be obtained through the food you eat, including tryptophan (required for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin), and tyrosine (an antioxidant...

B-Complex Helps Mood

The B vitamins — B6, B12 and folate (folic acid) — are all essential for beating depression. These important vitamins are needed to help make calming neurotransmitters in the brain and for brain function. 1. Vitamin B6 is required to make mood-calming serotonin. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin B6 aids in converting tryptophan into serotonin, as well as other neurotransmitters such as dopamine,...

Flaxseeds Flip the Switch on Depression

To heal depression, make sure you get lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber by adding flaxseeds to your diet. These flower seeds may be tiny but they’re bursting with nutrition, and they pack a super-sized punch when it comes to helping you beat the blues. 1. “B” good to your brain — eat flaxseeds. Think of flaxseeds as a shield for your brain! B vitamins, particularly folate, are essential to the synthesis...

Flaxseeds Punch Above Their Weight With Blues-Bust...

When you’re feeling lonely and depressed, the mighty little flaxseed is an important ally. This tiny flower seed is an inexpensive way of boosting dietary fiber and the fatty acid ALA, which is converted to healthy omega-3 fatty acids that promote cellular and brain health. It should be in every depression healing diet. 1. ALA in flax converts to depression-calming omega-3s. While not actually containing omega-3 fatty...

Sweet-Talk the Blues — Say Yes to Yams

Depression is essentially a condition of depletion. That feeling of running on empty is exacerbated by eating a poor Western diet of processed foods stripped of nutrients and loaded with cheap man-made sugars and fats and too much sodium. When your health falls out of balance, depression can quickly follow, robbing you of your joy and vitality. Get back on track by following the depression healing diet, which includes...

Bust Depression With Vitamin-Rich Yams

Yams are depression-busting superstars because they are rich in the vitamins you need to improve your overall health and boost your mood. They are good sources of the antioxidant vitamin C and calming B vitamins, which help you power through low-energy, low-mood days. There are nearly 200 varieties of this root vegetable — and almost as many health benefits from eating them. 1. Get your vital C with yams! To lift the...

Selenium Aids Brain Function

Selenium is a trace mineral that helps your body produce several glutathiones, powerful antioxidant enzymes that reduce oxidative damage associated with free radicals and also strengthen brain function. Research at the University of Wales has found that a deficiency in selenium may be linked with depression. We recommend supplementing with 100-200 mcg of selenium. Remember to consult with your doctor first before taking any...
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