Today, depression and mood disorders are considered the most devastating health problems. If you go to the doctor, he will most likely prescribe one of the popular antidepressants in response. Many doctors do not deal with metabolic or nutritional deficiencies that may be the real cause of your depression. Patients do not even suspect why they feel so awful and where to find the answer to this question. They expect their doctor to make the only right decision. But instead, he takes and prescribes the medicine as the easiest way to mask the symptoms. In fact, medications have a lot of serious side effects.

Doctors prescribe such drugs, focusing on the information received from manufacturers, but often it is only part of the truth. Side effects and the danger of these drugs are understated or even hidden. Prescription drugs should be prescribed only after a full medical examination and exclude the likelihood of any problems that may arise as a result of their intake.

If you suffer from depression or mood disorders, you may have a deficiency of one of the valuable substanceslisted below. Researchers have found that many people lack more than just one nutrient, but several, which makes symptoms worse.

1. Deficiency of a healthy diet

Junk foods are sugar-filled foods, sodas, and processed foods. But do you remember to have breakfast? If you suffer from depression or mood disorders, keep a food diary and write down everything you eat daily. In this case, you can definitely answer yourself all the questions regarding health problems. Your food basket and the contents of the refrigerator will tell you more than enough. When shopping for the whole family at the store, consumers often fill their cart with ready-made cereals, chips, sweets, sodas, convenience foods, and processed foods. The average European’s shopping list contains virtually no fresh vegetables or fruits. This is why many are faced with obesity, mental illness and diabetes. If your life is not going well, stop eating junk food.

2. The lack of omega-3 fats

They are found in foods such as fish and linseed oil. A deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids or an imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 fats may be one of the factors contributing to depression. Omega-3 fats are important for brain function and determining your attitude to life. They also help people suffering from inflammation and pain. Researchers have found that many patients with depression and mood disorders are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. It is important that the fish oil you buy is cold-processed and checked for heavy metals and other contaminants. Be sure to read everything that is written on the label.

3. Vitamin D deficiency

This vitamin is important for the health of the immune system, bones and brain. Sunlight is the richest source of natural vitamin D. It has been found that deficiency is often diagnosed in patients with depression and panic disorders. According to research, patients who are deficient in vitamin D are at a higher risk of developing depression later in life. In a special risk group are older people and those who work for many hours in offices. Go out in the sun. Take a walk during your lunch break or play with your dog. Relax with your children from computers and television. Just leave the house and stay a bit in the sun. Just do not overdo it if you are sensitive to sunlight. To go too far is not very good.

4. The lack of vitamins of group B

There are many studies proving a link between hypovitaminosis B and mood disorders, including depression. Instead of tablets, give preference to gel capsules containing at least 25 mg of each of the various B-vitamins included in the recipe.

5. Deficiency of zinc, folic acid, chromium and iron

Patients with depression often have deficiencies in many nutrients, including these. Unfortunately, modern food is not rich in minerals and trace elements.

6. Lack of iodine

This element is necessary for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, which is a component of the endocrine system and one of the most important glands of the human body. It affects all its functions, including temperature regulation, maintaining good immunity and ensuring the proper functioning of the brain. Iodine is present in foods such as potatoes, cranberries, algae (kelp, arama, hiziki, kombu and wakame). Once iodine deficiency was already overcome by enriching the salt with this element, but today iodine deficiency is again becoming a problem. Salted chips, processed foods and fast food do not contain iodized salt.

7. Amino Acid Deficiency

There are 9 essential amino acids that cannot be made by our body. You must supply them to the body by eating quality food.

Amino acids are found in meat, eggs, fish, cereals, seeds and nuts. To provide the body with all the amino acids that it needs for health, you need to eat varied. Not every food contains all nine amino acids. From their plant sources can be called Moringa oleifera leaves. The brain uses the amino acids found in food to produce the neurotransmitters necessary for it to function optimally.

What are neurotransmitters and how do they affect depression?

Healthy brain function requires the right balance of neurotransmitters. Some neurotransmitters calm the brain, while others excite it. Their balance in the brain ensures the stability of emotions and thinking. Often depression and other mental disorders cause an imbalance in neurotransmitters.

Dopamine, norepinephrine and GABA are three important neurotransmitters that are often lacking in depression. Specialists in the field of orthomolecular medicine have found that amino acid supplements, including tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine and methionine, help cure various mood disorders, including depression. First, urine and blood tests are taken to check the patient’s amino acid level. If an imbalance is detected, amino acid supplements are prescribed in dosages that are optimal for correcting the problem. Thus, orthomolecular doctors act on the underlying cause of depression or mental illness. If an imbalance in nutrients, such as an Omega-3 deficiency, is detected, you will be prescribed supplements. Instead of turning to medicines, they eliminate the deficiencies of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, which are the true causes of the onset of symptoms.

Watch the video: What if.. Nutrition could treat mental illness? (June 2025).