The Unsung Truth - Food as a Natural Treatment for Depression

Food is nature’s way with supplying your body with what it needs and craves, including treatment for diseases and things like depression. If you are eating processed, sugar laden foods every cell in your body is screaming for nutrients.

Most people don’t think of food as one of the natural ways to treat depression, but it is. The key is to raise the level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good and not depressed! It is actually called serotonin depression. Antidepressant medications slow the removal of serotonin from the brain balancing your serotonin levels so you no longer feel depressed. But this can also be accomplished with diet also.

Serotonin is not something you will find in food. But, certain foods cause serotonin to be released like simple carbohydrates and grains. That is why chocolate makes you feel so good. But with these types of foods you will also get raised blood sugar levels and a big let down in a couple of hours.

In order for you body to utilize the natural treatment for depression, your body needs tryptophan (an amino acid) to produce serotonin. Tryptophan, which your body does receive from the food you eat, and that have excellent sources of tryptophan are chicken, turkey, beef, brown rice, nuts, fish, milk, eggs, cheese, fruit, and vegetables. Remember your body can not make tryptophan; you must supply it in the form of food or supplements.

If you feel you need a supplement you can buy tryptophan at health food stores or 5-HTP an amino acid and a precursor to serotonin. It has been used as an antidepressant, appetite suppressant, and sleep aid. Other herbal remedies in addition to a healthy diet could include St. John’s Wort and Passion Flower also support serotonin levels.