Relation Between Food And Depression

Let me get to it straight, how many of you people are depressed of have suffered from depression or anxiety. I can guess, most of you must have suffered from it at least once and there is no one to blame, it is a part of life; it is a part of growth. It doesn’t mean it is good at all! Depression is like a scar, it leaves its mark on each one of us. It has an impact on the brain as well as other parts of the body which in turn affect the metabolism and hormonal balance. In essence, depression is not only bad for mental health but for the overall health of the body too. The person either eats too much or eats too less. Due to imbalanced hormonal levels and improper consumption of food, several deficiencies can take place and it might take a lot of time for the body to recover from it.

What kind of food should you eat when you are depressed?

For those people who let out their anger on food and don’t eat food when sad, depression can leave a deeper scar on them. There is no specific diet that is proven to release depression but there are certainly some food that are proven to make you happy and prevent your body to suffer from any kind of deficiency. Some of these foods are-

Antioxidant rich foods-

antioxidants help in protection of cell membrane from damage by the free radicals. These free radicals are formed due to breakdown of fat to produce energy. Antioxidant rich foods are fruits like apricots, broccoli, carrots, vegetable oil, wheat germ etc.

Protein rich foods

since the body needs protein to function well, protein should be incorporated in the diet. Don’t go for junk foods and binge eating. Instead, go for organic food that is rich in protein.

Smart carbohydrates

carbohydrates should provide 60% of total energy from the diet. Try to eat fibrous foods and complex carbohydrates as they not only take time to digest but also keep the gut healthy but also maintain the intestinal micro flora.

Drink a lot of fluids

fluid intake should be increased because a person often forgets to intake the right amount of fluids to maintain the homeostasis. You can drink plain water or fruit juices. They energize and maintain the fluid balance of the body.

Last but not the least, treat yourself with sweet things like chocolates (but not too much! Just 10 g per day) as sweet things elevate the mood. You should also consume fruits that have ample amounts of serotonin that is also called the ‘happy hormone’. Cope up with depression and seek help from friends or family if you feel like. Just remind yourself that you are strong and things will be fine and yes, don’t forget to eat good food and take care of yourself.