Are there really natural antidepressants out there powerful enough to help in the growing epidemic of depression? The answer is a definite yes. The brain is a very complex organ, controlling all other parts and systems of the body. Something as simple as one chemical imbalance, like serotonin, can cause the onset of depression. And once the onset of depression happens, it's easy to see how a downward spiral can ensue. According to much current research, poor diet and exercise habits are among the top contributors to depression. So if poor diet and exercise can bring on the onset of depression, and if depression often leads to a lack of exercise and poor eating habits, then it's easy to see how simple things and habits might break the downward spiral of depression. But this article will get into more than that. In this article we will discuss proven natural antidepressants and why they work.
1) Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids. In many other articles, I've written extensively on Omega 3 EFAs. They're absolutely essential to proper brain function because the working surface of the brain and gray matter are made up of Omega 3 EFAs. Another very important piece of information is that Omega 3 EFAs are increasingly being diminished in the normal food supply due to some specific corporate farming methods that are increasing the supply of Omega 6 EFAs and diminishing the supply of Omega 3s.
But getting more specific about Omega 3s as natural antidepressants. According to Joseph Hibbeln MD, author of a few compelling studies on fish consumption linked to depression, "In the last century, [Western] diets have radically changed and we eat grossly fewer omega-3 fatty acids now. We also know that rates of depression have radically increased by perhaps a hundred-fold." In clinical studies, the Omega 3 component DHA was shown to be directly helpful in battling chronic depression.
2) Balanced Diet Full of Amino Acids. Most commonly caused by an unbalanced diet lacking in amino acids, many people suffer from what's known as Neurotransmitter Deficiency Disorder. This condition can bring about a number of other ailments such as fatigue, depression, obesity, and others. The basic idea is this. The body needs amino acids in great supply. In fact there are over 20 amino acids that the body needs, 8 of which it can't make on its own. Amino acids are what makes proteins, and proteins are much more than just muscle tissue. Most hormones and enzymes are proteins, and so are most neurotransmitters used in the brain. A diet deficient in amino acids can quickly make a person feel very lousy. Many of the essential chemicals the body uses will begin to decrease in production, and as a result, the metabolism will often slow, making a person feel fatigued and out of energy.
The problem with many depression drugs is that they can actually deplete levels of neurotransmitters over time. Drugs known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI) including Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa, and Wellbutrin work by artificially boosting serotonin allowing for a temporary benefit to the chemical messaging system. These drugs however, don't cause a production of more serotonin in the body, and over time can actually cause serotonin levels to deplete because of a few specific factors. So if you're not providing the body with the building blocks, or amino acids, that it needs in order to build neurotransmitters, you might not ever see a permanent positive change.
3) Brain Stimulating Natural Supplements. There are a host of good natural supplements available that aid in the production and release of neurotransmitters and other essential chemicals that the brain relies on. Many of the compounds found in brain stimulating natural supplements are actually specific amino acids, which you learned about in the above point. When brain chemistry isn't at 100%, you can't just take a supplement that will fill in the gap like you would if you had a vitamin C deficiency. Instead, supplements are available that provide the basic essentials, or building blocks, for the body to produce brain chemicals, things like hormones and neurotransmitters.
4) Exercise. I know that it sounds like I'm preaching a tired old message, diet and exercise. But that's only because it's true. A proper diet and regular exercise will do wonders for the body. We've already covered diet. Exercise has been linked to brain chemistry because exercise causes the body to release serotonin, thereby causing a person to feel content, happy, and energetic. I've noticed this phenomenon myself, being a person who exercises routinely. After a good workout, I feel a boost in vitality and spirits. Many others have reported the exact same thing.
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These are just a few of the natural antidepressants that many people have found very useful. For more on depression and brain chemistry, read another of my articles on natural dopamine supplements.
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