Fish Oil And Postpartum Depression - Keys To Conquering It

As someone involved with the natural health sciences for quite some time now, I've seen the problem of postpartum depression grow from a rare occurrence into something very common among many young women. So I set out to find out why this could be.

The answer is that it is very likely that the change in humanity's dietary habits over the last few hundred years is one of the two main reasons (the other being, in my opinion, stress and the over-demanding way of life that women are faced with today) that have led to this sad state of affairs. Women who have just given birth should be finding themselves in one of the happiest times in their lives, and not finding themselves depressed, sitting on the couch and brooding endlessly.

The main key to focus on is this: Studies have shown that the majority of people in the West are deficient in the polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are abundantly found in fatty fish. DHA, in particular, plays a very important role in the human brain, and a deficiency of DHA has been known to cause depression, including postpartum depression.

One study done in Maastricht, the Netherlands, found that indeed, most women suffering from postpartum depression had low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood. Of the women who participated in the study, 20% developed postpartum depression, and that 20% were precisely the women who had the lowest levels of EPA and DHA in their blood.

All women who are suffering from this condition should be taking a molecularly distilled fish oil supplement daily, to replenish their needs in DHA, and should be eating a healthy diet, high in fresh foods and low in processed foods, especially avoiding foods high in omega six fatty acids, like corn oil, most cooking oils, junk foods and fried foods.

By taking a holistic approach, which includes dietary changes, fish oil capsules and a positive outlook, most women can conquer postpartum depression naturally and effectively, allowing them to enjoy quality time with their babies.