415 Diet & Depression [10 April 2017]

Depression is a significant health and economic problem in Canada, costing an estimated $32 billion to the economy each year and causing untold suffering for the 3.5 million Canadians who will experience it at least once during their lifetime. Traditional treatment currently includes psychotherapy and psychiatric medication, with limited success. Recent research is starting to find that diet and lifestyle factors are also important, something I have been saying for years (#74 August 2010; #297 Dec 2014).

In my article #300 Medicate or Nutrate (January 2015) I quote Dr. Julia Rucklidge who proposed that lifestyle factors (healthy eating, exercise & supplements) should be the first priority in treating mental illness, followed by psychological and medication treatments only when necessary.

A random controlled trial by Deakin University’s Food and Mood Centre (in Geelong, Australia) was the first to test the effect of improving the diet on clinical depression. Participants were randomly assigned to either receive social support or assistance to improve the quality of their diets. Dietary improvements included increasing vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes, fish, lean meats, olive oil and nuts, while reducing refined cereals, fried food, processed meats and sugary drinks and desserts. The dietary group showed a much greater reduction in their depressive symptoms over three months than the social support group. Furthermore, those who followed the dietary program more closely improved the most.

The lead author Professor Felice Jacka, president of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research, said this study offers an important new strategy for the treatment of depression and suggests adding clinical dieticians to mental health care teams. Professor Jacka added “It also supports the previous extensive research from human population studies and animal research suggesting that diet is a key determinant of mental and brain health”.

If significant improvements in depression symptoms can be seen with just three months of basic dietary improvements, just think how much more could be accomplished with the addition of adequate supplementation of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and amino acids, along with optimum exercise and sunlight!

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.