Depression is a serious mental health treatment and it is generally not recommended that it be treated solely through diet and/or herbal remedies. While there are foods and herbs that have demonstrated some effectiveness at reducing the symptoms of depression the involvement in psychotherapy is highly recommended. The use of psychotherapy and medication has been shown to be effective at treating depression symptoms. If you plan to use alternative treatments, be sure to discuss the possibilities and limitations with your doctor.
Hypericum Perforatum
Hypericum perforatum or as it is more commonly referred to as St. John's wort has been used extensively in Europe to treat moderate to mild forms of depression and is now the top selling product in the United States, notes the National Institute of Mental Health or NIMH.
This herb has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or FDA to treat depression and is currently classified as a dietary supplement, notes the MayoClinic.com. This means that the claims that are made by manufactures of St. John wort have not been tested by the FDA.
The NIMH conducted a study to determine the effects of St. John's wort and found that it was no more effective at reducing depression symptoms than the placebo. Also, St. John's wort can have drug interactions and you should talk to your doctor if you are thinking about taking this herb.
B-Vitamin Rich
Eating foods that are rich in B-vitamins have been show to help prevent episodes of depression, because deficiencies in vitamin B can trigger a depressive episode, notes HelpGuide.org.
B-vitamins are often found in various beans, eggs, fruits and leafy green vegetables such as oranges and spinach.
Fatty Acid
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, including foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet has been shown to have some ability to reduce the symptoms of depression. Therefore, if you are experiencing depression adding Omega-3 rich foods to your diet has limited risks and may result in relief from depression symptoms, as well as, other healthy benefits.
Possible dietary sources of Omega-3 fatty acids include fatty fish such as salmon, flaxseed, walnuts, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil and soybeans.
Health Foods
TeensHealth.org reports that maintaining a healthy diet can improve your mood and outlook when you are depressed. Healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of fiber that help keep your energy levels up and ward of the crashes in energy that are associated with sugar and refined carbohydrates. HelpGuide.org suggests that to help reduce the symptoms of depression you should eat a diet containing protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables.
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