The answer to the question above does not refer to comfort food. When going through any form of depression, whether it is heartbreak, the loss of a loved one or work troubles - most of us take refuge in food. This food is what is known as comfort food and is usually very sweet or overwhelmingly buttery and creamy in nature. The purpose of this is to eat food that is very rich and therefore, makes you feel wholesome and comforted.
However, this kind of food is not the answer to depression. Research has proven that the hormones secreted by the body when it is feeling blue can be countered by the effect of certain diets. Here is an overview of how diet can beat depression and what foods should specifically be eaten to help you in this mission.
Serotonin is a chemical which is released by the brain and brings about a feeling of peace and calm in the body. Although foods don’t actually contain this chemical, they can induce the brain to secrete it and this brings about a sense of well being in the body which can help cure depression. A diet which is high in carbohydrates is known o be the best source of serotonin inducing foods. Examples of foods that this diet would contain are pasta, whole meal bread and cereals which are high in fiber. There was a study carried out whereby which a diet similar to this, which was rich in carbohydrates, was fed to a group of 18 to 25 year olds for about a week. After this, these people were not prone to experiencing typical symptoms of depression that usually follow stressful or traumatic experiences. This showed that these foods were successful in uplifting an individual’s mood and preventing the onset of depression by bringing about the secretion of serotonin in the body.
There are a large number of foods that can help secrete calming chemicals in the body and thus prevent you from getting depressed. One commonly observed trend is that a very low consumption of fats has usually been linked to higher depression rates. Additionally, here is a list of some foods that have been proven to decrease the chances of one getting depressed if incorporated into a diet.
These are supposed to be very rich in selenium which has been seen to be a mood lifter. Peas: A great source of vitamin B1, an element which is necessary for strong nerves.
This is a rich source of iron and the vitamin B6. Low levels of these chemicals can trigger the depression that occurs in the premenstrual syndrome.
These supply the body with large amounts of potassium, iron and b vitamins, all essential ingredients in maintaining the chemistry of the brain.
These promote the secretion of those hormones which bring about feelings of pressure.
