OK. I'll be the first to admit my diet is totally awful.

Very few vegetables, not much fruit, and way too much fast food and junk.

I've always wonder whether this could contribute to my problems? Any comments?

Also, anyone found that eating (or not eating) certain foods makes them feel better ?

I eat alot of junk food so i would also be interested to know if it makes much difference.

I heard that fish is good for depression/mental functioning because of the fatty acid properties.

Psychocandy, I personally think diet and nutrition make a big difference, HUGE difference. Studies have found that sugar and caffeine can cause depression including in children. So you can imagine what it does with people who are more prone to depression.

Junk food, let's see...food additives, preservatives, sugar, and caffeine have all been linked to depression!

There's a study I read, and I've been reading a lot about this, that taking multivitamins can make a big difference in overall well-being and mood.
Drinking water everyday is important because dehydration has been linked to depression. The latest I've read is that you don't have to drink 8 cups a day. Who does that? But not allow yourself to be dehydrated.

You need vegetables and fruits because of all those good vitamins which will effect your mood. Especially fruit high in Vit. C like oranges because strengthening the immune system has been linked to mood. The only thing is that fruit is high in sugar, so I personally don't eat too much of it. Also food high in antioxidants which is why you need some organic leafy veggies, and green tea helps too.

Protein is also very important. Amino acids have been proved to raise serotonin, endorphin, dopamine and norepinephorine levels. Poultry has trytophan in it which helps with serotonin levels, and beef and buffalo have iron in them. And there's more that's just what I recall right now.

I could go on and on. Of course I'm on a whole diet to improve my mood because I have been off of meds for 9 months so it is one thing I depend on.

There are some good books out there, tons of health books. One that I highly recommend is called 'The Mood Cure' by Julia Ross. She has her own clinic based on nutrition and supplements and many years of research. It would be helpful to anyone with depression and anxiety. From mild depresion and anxiety to major. And whether anyone is on meds., or not. And some nice 'lil recipes that have food for people with d. & a.
And a section on the 'bad mood foods'. I was surprised that soy was one of them.

Also, (I could just go on and on), there are different d. 'types'. There are people who need serotonin, and then there's endorphins and then the catecholomines (sp.?)-dopamine, norepinephorine, and adrenalin. People with food allergies suffer d., as well as low thyroid, and hormonal changes, and imbalances.

So, YES, diet makes a big difference. I've had to make some lifestyle changes.

Good luck and hope you eat well and take your vitamins, and drink your water!!

I've changed my diet from junk food, prepared foods (frozen dinners), sweets, red meat, etc. to a low fat/ high fiber diet to control cholesterol and weight. I feel a lot better physically eating vegetables, fruits, Omega-3 fish, whole grains, etc. It's also affected the depression in a good way (better body image for one). I've also increased the amount of exercise I do, which also makes me feel better mentally and has improved physical health as well.

You might want to check into this type of diet. There's many books on the subject. You can also Google it.
Sheepwoman

Yes, Chocolate!
And carbs, with pastry and pasta topping the list.
Sorry, that wasn't helpful, but I'm also not a poster children for healthy eating either ...

Yeah, fish has the Omega-3's as well as eggs & flaxseed oil which help with chemical imbalances in the brain. This is something I just found out recently: Omega 6 oils (found in vegetable oils, soy, and corn) compete with the Omega 3's in the brain. So lower the amount of vegetable oil in cooking. This is going to be challenging for me since I use primarily canola oil in cooking. Sometimes I use olive oil. But there's flaxseed oil out there. Hmmm. Other oils out there on the market too.

Post edit: I just read my first post over again and hoped it didn't come across as too preachy. I used to be a total junk food junkie, common among people who suffer depression and anxiety. A whole pot of coffee everyday, tons of chocolate and sugar, and carbs. I tend to want to eat pasta and chocolate to sooth the low moods and end up crashing. Stopping all of that and getting on a better diet helped me 150%!

This post has been edited by Whitelily: Aug 19 2008, 12:27 PM

You didn't, at all. You're walking your talk, which gives your knowledge so much credibility.

Thank you. Cheers!

No probs Lily. Not at all. Nice to have some honest feedback. thanks.

Hi psychocandy,

There are more alternate therapies and treatments based on food and additives than you could poke a stick at. That alone should tell you there's a lot of fraud in that area too. People taking advantage of our desperation to sell supposed "cures" based on absolutely nothing.

If you looked you would find a cure based on almost every type of food and almost every type of dietary combination. That's what makes us easy targets.

I'm not a believer in these health food stores that sell mountains of pills supposedly all created lovingly by pure monks who have never had a bad thought and such crap. You know what I mean.

On the other hand I have no doubt our bodies are better suited to eating certain foods in certain ways at certain times. The evidence is how many of us are carrying just a tad too much weight. What that says to me is our bodies have not evolved with the food we eat and never will as our food fads change so quickly. We still have an appendix for goodness sake, that was for dealing with grass type foods we ate way back into history.

I think the answer is to be balanced on it Psych. Don't put your entire faith into food solving your problem but make the effort to eat healthy and only as you need, not out of boredom etc.

I think Lily is pretty close to the mark but I don't have the strength to be that vigilant on food. I can't argue with most of what Lily says either. I just can't do it.

In the end I do know food intake had no role at all in my developing depression or in the length of time time I've had it so I just don't see the connection, in my case. If I'd had a bad lifestyle with tons of fast food etc and had become overweight and then developed depression then I could agree. But that wasn't the case with me.

I have very few pleausures in life and food is one I do enjoy, still. I don't eat much really but I make damned sure what I eat is good to taste and satisfying, regardless of health effects. Mentally that makes me feel good.

So I'm thinking that it is more about disciplining yourself with food initially that may allow us to discipline our thinking as well. Think about that.

I must say though the water drinking is a key, as is sleep. We are almost made of water so it has to be a good choice. I don't know any doc who says it's other than the best choice for drinking. So I don't do it of course! And don't fall for the bottled water ripoff. It's a fraud too, of course.

Chocolate is of course the choice of all wise people. But only in excess!

No Lily, you're not preachy as I see it. You have knowledge and experience most of us don't and it's excellent you share it. Hope it actually seeps into my brain and I get some of the message!

Very best

Friendly

Friendly,

I know what you mean. Its so daunting and depressing to see all the different opinions, cures etc out there and trying to find something that works for you.

If you took every vitamin and mineral on sale in a health food shop you'd spend all your earnings every mionth !!!!!

I'm pretty much the same way, or I should say I was. I am really trying to improve my diet. Eating bran, fruit, chicken..Not too many veggies yet though, other than the Magical fruit
I guess I do eat some vegtables, lettuce (romaine), tomatoes, cucumbers and some other stuff I can't remember. I have found a rekindled love for fruit, bananas, plumbs, nectarines and pairs(sp, I know).
I've lost 10lbs of the 30 I gained since meds. I'm good in the am and lunch time, but nights are still hard..I love ice cream!!!!!

Eating bad isn't be good for us in any way, MI or not. We're not getting any younger either.
Next step, the GYM!!
I told my theripist I want 6 pac abs, she laughed and said it's a little late for that. We bothed laughed..
I'm also trying moderation, just not a strong part of my world just yet. But the past 2-3 weeks of NOT overeating has already started to shrink the inside of my stomach in a way that I'm filling up sooner and actualy satisfied..Fruit has made a huge difference. They say they some has a lot of sugars, but it's gotta be better than a Bacon/egg-n-cheeze on a bagel I used to eat

hi

i'm currently looking into how my diet might/ will affect my depression. this thread has been a great help to me.

thank you very much
Random

Hey Psychocandy
I have been blathering on about Nutrition and its role in mental health on here for a while..
Please check out the following post. It lists the different factors that Lily pointed out, as well as some questionnaires to guide you toward which ones may be affecting you. Most have a scientific test that can be carried out to be sure.

If you have any questions please feel free to PM me.
Love & Light
Giz