Depression and Diet

Diet can affect your depression, plain and simple. Check out these tips on changing your diet for a better mood.

Food has a bigger effect on mood most people realize. Certain foods cost you more energy while other foods give you more energy. Fruits and vegetables provide your body with vitamins that you need. These also effect the way you feel so you want to make sure you’re food contains enough vitamins, minerals and fibers.Check out this page for specific information on the effect of vitamin B complex. This really illustrates the link between depression and diet.

Eating 6 times a day is also good for your hightening mood and metabolism. These shouldn’t be 6 full blown meals though. Here’s an example of what I eat during an average day.

First thing in the morning I start with a couple of big gulps of water. I keep a large water bottle next to my bed. I drink right before I go to sleep and right after I wake up. This is because your body detoxes the most during the night and the early morning. (This doesn’t count as a meal though).

Meal 1. After that I start with a few pieces of fruit or a fruit shake to get my stomach started. This also provides the vitamins.

Meal 2. After about 20-30 min I have a sandwhich or two. The healthier the better.

Meal 3. Lunch Time! Usually chicken and vegatables. This can be made right then and there or the night before (still tastes good). Just try to get the most out of your lunch so even when you’re buying it think about what your body needs the most to be in optimal health. Because that leads to more energy which in turn leads to a better mood!

Meal 4. Again something small, like a sandwhich or some fruit.

Meal 5. Dinner, anything from pasta to meals with rice, salads, the occasional pizza, etc. Variety is important here, change it up and keep the nutrional value in mind.

Meal 6. Small meal again, usually a sandwhich or some fruit.

With the exception of the first two meals, I eat about every 2 to 3 hours. This isn’t the perfect diet to cure depression or anything else. It works for me to keep my metabolism and energy level higher. You don’t have to follow this exactly, your body knows what it needs. Did you that babies pick the right foods when give the choice and some time? They listen to their bodies, like we all should! Like I said earlier, some foods give you more energy, find out which ones those are and stick to them!

This can lead to feeling more active and energetic!  You’ll be hungier more often than your used too, but it’s good for you! Listen to your body, know when you need to eat and know when to stop.

Drink a lot of water. A large part of us consists out of water, so it’s a good thing to keep the fluid intake high. Water is easily the best thirst quencher. But it’s way more than that, it can make you feel fit, awake and it detoxes you. I myself drink up to 3 liters a day. I’ve never felt fitter since I started. Did you know that when you’re thirsty it already way too late? At that point your body is literally SCREAMING for water! We all need to avoid being thirsty by keeping a filled water bottle near you at all times! So next time you’re thirsty, realize that you’re already too late and that water is the best option.

Multivitamins are a great, especially when your regular vitamin intake isn’t good enough. If you checked out the link on vitamin b, you should have an idea what the right vitamins can do against depression. Some vitamins you can take all day with no ill effects, vitamin c for example just gets flushed out when you take too much. However. it loses it’s effect after a certain amount is taken. Other vitamins can actually be dangerous when you take too much, so take high quality multivitamins but make sure you don’t take more than the recommended amount per day.

Variety is the keyword here. Change it up! Try new and different recipes. Be creative! Another thing, it’s not always necessary to eat healthy. I still enjoy cookies, burgers, ice-cream and all sorts of yummy stuff.  But my main diet consists out a lot of vegetables, fruits, and poultry and fish.

Finally did you know that the combination of food is also very important? Your stomach has different digestive rates and fluids depending on its content. When to many different things are there, your stomach only digests the food with the biggest presence. The rest basically rots away. This is the reason many of us take a long time to digest and feel so weary after eating. Combining the right foods is essential. Meats go together with vegetables. Fruits should be seperate and consumed before meals, not after. Rice, potatoes, etc can also go well with veggies but don’t do too well with the meats. I know, that is not fun to hear. But make these changes and you’ll notice you’ll feel fitter, you’ll have more energy and your mood will be lifted. Once you start, it’ll only get easier after a while, take control of your diet, don’t let your diet control you!

Do you have any tips on diet and depression? Comment and share the knowlegde!