Natural Treatments For Depression - Can Certain Foods Improve Mood?

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Have you noticed becoming happier or sadder after a meal? You may have simple written it off to some other reason.
While it is unlikely that diet modification alone will cure your depression what is for sure is that improper diet and nutrition can certainly make depression much worse.
Perhaps the most important category of mood altering foods is that of carbohydrates.
Quite simply carbs boost moods.
But before you go out and load up on chocolate chip cookies and pasta you need to read the remainder of this article.
Those delicious and sometimes irresistible carbohydrates are broken down and converted to glucose (sugar).
This process produces that much need quick fix of energy to fuel your body.
Two different types of carbohydrates are vying for your attention: simple and complex.
The body quickly converts simple carbs (pasta, cookies, white rice, donuts, bagels, and beer) into sugar.
So if your dinner order consisted of pasta over a bed of white rice along with a few brews and maybe a couple of chocolate chip cookies for the road you are indeed riding high, at least for a while.
The problem is that all good things must come to an end and this process comes to an end faster than the body can adjust.
It goes something like this: the quick conversion into sugar also signals you body to produce excess insulin.
The insulin then causes you blood sugar level to fall.
For most, the rapid decline in blood sugar produces a lowered mood, grumpiness, and you guessed it the desire to consume more sugar.
These peaks and valleys in insulin leading to mood inconsistencies can be very problematic for someone with depression due to their imbalance in neurotransmitter activity.
On the other hand complex carbs such as whole grains, beans, vegetables, roots, and whole fruit tend to produce much more long lasting results than their evil simple carbohydrate cousins.
Complex carbs break down into sugar more slowly, allowing your all important insulin levels to remain more stable.
They don't increase cravings or lower moods.
Some research suggests that complex carbs actually raise the levels of serotonin; one of the important brain neurotransmitters.
In summary, for those suffering with depression what you eat can either help you to feel better or potentially much worse.
So the next time you decide to have that pasta over a bed of white rice with a couple of beers and a cookie for the road perhaps you should think about a complex carb alternative instead.
This smart choice will keep you feeling better longer and avoid being harassed by that simple carb loving fellow known as depression.
Additionally, many natural health minded people are finding success by combining the benefits of proper nutrition with herbal remedies for depression.
This natural treatment combination has proven to be a powerful recipe for combating mild to moderate depression and is a safe and effective option worth considering.
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