Have you ever wondered if there is a connection between what you put in your body and how you feel?
Most of us probably have. I know I have. But I approached it from the wrong angle. To me, looking good was feeling good. So, following all the stuff I heard about how carbohydrates made you fat and ugly, I switched to a diet high in animal protein – dairy, meat, some vegetables.
Actually, most people approach the answer to this question from a wrong angle. They believe – okay, I’m cutting out fast food and sweets. Sugar equals death after all. I’ll eat lots of animal protein and work out. Because that’s what makes people fit.
Well, guess what? You’ve been lied to. There is a completely different way for human beings to feel good.
There is the simple way – you go to your local psychiatrist, you enumerate all the terrible symptoms you’ve struggled with, he prescribes some wonderful meds for you. They mostly work. Within a few weeks, you get bursts of energy and creativity, you stop being afraid of people, you know, all the stuff depression was keeping from you. But the thing they don’t really tell you – or do, because that’s their job, but it’s between the lines – is the side effects. The first few days, when you feel even worse than before; the problems with your digestive system; and basically disturbing your body’s chemical balance even more.
Is there anything else you can try?
Well, to me and to many others, the answer was: a plant-based diet.
In doctor Neal Barnard’s study (http://www.pcrm.org/nbBlog/index.php/foods-that-fight-depression), the participants adopted a low-fat diet, rich in fiber.
Here are the results:
Let me quote doctor Neal Barnard:
“How does a plant-based diet improve depression? Depression is related to inflammation in the body and low levels of serotonin. Plant-based foods naturally lower inflammation in the body because they are naturally low in fat and high in antioxidants. High vegetable intake increases the amount of B vitamins in the diet, which have been found to affect mood.”
What he doesn’t mention here (but I believe it is mentioned in other sources) is that you should also supplement B12! Even people who eat animal-based products have deficiencies, and this vitamin is essential for combatting depression. (These supplements are very cheap. Maybe that’s why nobody really talks about them. After all, it’s easier to promote all those completely unnecessary omega-3 supplements)
Under this link, you can also learn about the typical Western diet and its impact on our well-being: https://www.naturalhealth365.com/fighting-depression-fruits-vegetables-1920.html
I personally believe that our enemy is the processed food… It affects every little cell in your body. It doesn’t nourish you. Most of the calories you provide are “empty” calories, meaning that they don’t provide you with any energy. The substances they contain make you irritable, tired and frustrated – because you’re supposedly eating healthy, but you still feel like… you know.
“Food can be your first line of defense against mental illness. Here is why. Brain health depends on gut health. Bacteria, along with viruses and fungi, are called microbes, and we are filled with them. They live everywhere in our body including our intestines. Together, they form our body's unique collection of microbes. Because of the sheer number of them, they have a significant impact on health. Good microbes can help prevent disease. Bad microbes can create gut inflammation. Studies are now showing that gut inflammation can cause depression along with other brain ailments.” (https://ordinaryvegan.net/mental-illness/)
Please consult the source above if you want to treat your depression with changing your dietary habits. It was my source and it’s really the best. It enumerates all the foods you should incorporate.
The reason why I decided not to post any “success stories” in here is because I don’t believe in anecdotal evidence and I won’t share any anecdotal evidence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotal_evidence).
Going plant-based doesn’t mean that your depression will be cured at once. Many people still need medication, but many take a much smaller dose or slowly get off their meds.
Don't quote me on this, but maybe the improvement... maybe it’s also linked to the knowledge that by eating plant-based, you’re not contributing to cruelty and destruction of the environment due to meat production.
I hope this article made you at least a bit interested in a plant-based diet.
