More than 15 million Americans suffer from serious depression, and it is estimated that globally some 350 million people
are struggling with the challenging mental disorder. While the causes
of depression are varied and largely unidentifiable, since the 1950’s
the pharmaceutical industry has been developing a broad range of antidepressants, and it now estimated that 8-10% of the American population is taking some type of antidepressants.
The problems with antidepressants are wide-ranging including
addiction, costs, and a host of unfavorable side-effects including
emotional numbness and even an increased risk of suicide.
While antidepressants may very well help some people cope with the
overwhelming effects of depression in the short-term, pharmaceutical
treatments do not cure depression.
Pondering the reasons for such a major increase in depression in our
society over the last couple of decades, many have speculated that a
combination of lifestyle, social disconnectedness in a technologically
advanced society, lack of exercise, environmental pollutants, and
increased consumption of nutritionless and heavily processed foods are
to blame. Yet, medical science has been slow to fully acknowledge and
recommend lifestyle changes to patients, often preferring the
recommendation of pharmaceuticals.
A world-first study, however, recently conducted by Deakin University
in Australia has shown unequivocally that major depression can be
conquered with the right dietary changes.
“We’ve known for some time that there is a clear association between the quality of people’s diets and their risk for depression. This is the case across countries, cultures and age groups, with healthy diets associated with reduced risk, and unhealthy diets associated with increased risk for depression. However, this is the first randomised controlled trial to directly test whether improving diet quality can actually treat clinical depression.” ~Professor Felice Jacka, Director of Deakin’s Food and Mood Centre
The study looked at adults with major depression, evaluating their
progress with specific dietary changes over a three-month period,
revealing the types of foods which help the most.
“The dietary group received information and assistance to improve the quality of their current diets, with a focus on increasing the consumption of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes, fish, lean red meats, olive oil and nuts, while reducing their consumption of unhealthy ‘extras’ foods, such as sweets, refined cereals, fried food, fast-food, processed meats and sugary drinks.” [Source] Read more
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