Supplements to aid natural signs of Depression

What is Depression?

Depression can be characterised by feelings of sadness, despair and discouragement. There are many levels of depression ranging from unexplained sadness to an inner despair that can influence and affect every aspect of your physical and mental being. Symptoms include feelings of low self-esteem, withdrawal from interpersonal contact such as family and friends and physical symptoms such as loss of appetite or insomnia.

According to research, around one in four people suffer from some form of depression or mood order in their lifetime.

There are many things that can cause depression. Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) where they become more depressed in winter months when days are shorter and longer. Other people may be affected more negatively by personal circumstances relating to financial or career goals. There maybe be many reasons why people might feel depressed and we recommend you take an analytical look at your life before deciding on an appropriate course of action.

However, there are many factors that can surround clinical depression which can be linked with organic matters, especially your diet. These include nutrient deficiencies or excess, medication, drugs, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, hormonal imbalances, allergies or many forms of toxicity. How does your diet effect depression?

The food you eat influences every muscle in your body, especially the brain. Chemicals called neurotransmitters are influenced by what we eat and are linked to our moods.

One of the biggest causes of depression is a poor diet consisting of excess sugar intake. This can also be said for white flour and rice and alcohol. Food and drinks such as this use up many of the vitamins and minerals we need to keep our mood balanced and as they lack the nutrients to replenish your body with, you son become deficient of them and your mood suffers. They also give you the common ‘high’, followed by a deeper low that’s leaves you feeling even more tired and depressed than before.

Generally, a healthy diet, with adequate supplementation, will be helpful for many people suffering from several forms of depression. Many nutrients are involved in brain and hormone functions so generally, the healthier we eat, the better we feel. A good diet consisting of white meat, vegetables, fruits, fish, brown rice etc will all be beneficial to how we feel.

Below are listed just some of the supplements available to us that may biologically aid our moods. These are all natural ingredients that can be found in a healthy diet or naturally produced by the body. Supplements to help combat depression L-Tyrosine:

This is one of 20 amino acids used by the body to aid protein synthesis. It is a non-essential amino acid and found mostly in casein.

Although research has shown less effect on mood, it is more noticeable when people are subjected to stressful conditions. Studies show Tyrosine usedful during conditions of stress, cold, fatigue, prolonged work and sleep deprivation by reducing stress hormone levels, stress induced weight loss and improving cognitive and physical performance. DL-Phenylalanine:

An essential amino acid, phenylalanine is now marketed as a nutritional supplement for its putative analgesic and antidepressant activities. This can be explained by the blockage by D-phenylalanine of enkephalin degradation by the enzyme carboxypeptidase A. Anti-depressant uses can be explained by the synthesis of neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine as increased levels are associated with antidepressant effects. Hydroxytryptophan:

A naturally occurring amino acid, hydroxytryptophan is also marketed as an antidepressant, sleep aid and appetite suppressant. Several research studies have shown ‘HTP’ to be an effective antidepressant as it increases serotonin levels available to the brain. Fish Oils/Omega-3 fatty acids:

The working ingredient of fish oil is Omega-3. Omega 3 fatty-acids are essential amino acids that have been shown to have a positive effect on mood disorders and help people feel more stable and confident.

It plays a crucial role in producing chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, which as discussed, have been shown to aid with symptoms of depression. Inositol

Studies have shown lower levels of Inositol, a naturally occurring substance involved in the production of brain chemicals, found around the brain and spinal column in depressed people compared to healthy people. A small number of studies also show Inositol could be an alternate source of depression medication for people who do not respond well to antidepressant medications. Folate (Vitamin B9):

Folate is the water-soluble form of vitamin b9. Rich sources of folate can be found in leafy vegetables, beans, peas, fortified cereals, sunflower seeds and certain fruits and vegetables. Though research is limited at present, tests show a link between people suffering from depression and low levels of folate. Around 15-38% of people suffering depression have low folate levels in their body with the lowest levels being the most depressed. Despite this, folate and folic acid is a key nutritional supplement with many benefits to the human diet. Selenium:

The mineral selenium can be found in liver, fish, garlic, sunflower seeds, nuts and grains and yeast. Studies have shown that not only does Selenium significantly affect your mood, but a high diet of selenium sources reported decreased feeling of depression in weeks.

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