HEALTHY BODY
Eating to Treat Depression
Several foods have been labeled “good mood foods” since they can change a person’s mood for the better. These so called good mood foods for natural depression treatment include: The importance of carbohydrates in dealing with depression is also entrenched in the Bible where we see that when Elijah was depressed, God sent an angel to wake him up to eat and he found a coal baked bread (most probably whole grain. (1 Kings 19:4-6) These complex carbohydrates in addition to increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, do not cause the blood sugar spikes associated with moods swings, energy drops, fatigue, and overeating that are common side effects of eating refined carbohydrates. This is due to the fact that these complex carbohydrates result in a gradual rise and gradual drop in the blood glucose levels. Therefore, increase your intake of wholegrain pasta, whole meal breads and high fiber cereals when you are feeling down as these are some of the best foods for beating depression.
1. Complex Carbohydrates
Complex carbohydrates, which include whole grain bread, pastry and cereals increase the levels of serotonin in the body. This serotonin “soothes the mind” and imparts a feeling of calmness, relaxation and emotional well being. These feelings may explain why a lot of comfort foods that people tend to reach for when they are feeling sad, lonely, stressed or depressed are carbohydrates like cakes and cookies. This connection of carbohydrates and depression is also seen in a study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine that showed that persons who ate a very low carbohydrate diet of around 20 -40 grams a day had higher rates of depression, anger and anxiety compared to those who ate a high carb and low fat diet.
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