New Help with Depression, Vitamins and Antioxidants, Part 1

This is a re post from 2012

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I have been thinking a lot about nutrition and mental illness. My psychiatrist told me about about three years ago that researchers are trying to "think outside the box" when it comes to nutrition in the fight against mental illness. For many years I have had to increase one of the four medications that I am on every six months. I have contacted numerous mental health professionals and have learned some things why this increase is needed;for example the reason some antidepressants stop working is that a person has been given a diagnosis of major depression recurrent and being treated for major depression and they really have bipolar disorder. They therefore need to add a mood stabilizer to their "medication cocktail." In 2001, I did that and have never had a severe depressive episode, since that change. My depression has only been at moderate level and has been alleviated by the raised dosage, every six months.

Supplements I tried Omega 3 Fatty Acids and saw some clear benefits. Apparently it helps with achieve neuroplascity with neurons in the brain. Another exciting thing is that I have not gone up in any of my medications in the last year and a couple of months. I attribute this to increasing antioxidants through food and through a regimen of vitamins. These working as a supplement have helped me considerably.

A recent article in Medscape sheds a much needed light on the subject.

Which Foods Are Best for the Brain? Diet is inextricably linked to conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. However, what we consume also seems to have significant implications for the brain: Unhealthy diets may increase risk for psychiatric and neurological conditions, such as depression and dementia, whereas healthy diets may be protective. Based primarily on recent Medscape News coverage, the following slide show collects some of the more prominent investigations on nutrition and the brain into a single resource to aid in counseling your patients.

Make for Malta in Depression, Stroke, and Dementia

A 2009 study published in Archives of General Psychiatry found that people who follow Mediterranean dietary patterns -- that is, a diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, and unsaturated fat (common in olive and other plant oils) -- are up to 30% less likely to develop depression than those who typically consume meatier, dairy-heavy fare. The olive oil-inclined also show a lower risk for ischemic stroke and are less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease, particularly when they engage in higher levels of physical activity. Fat: The Good and the Bad A study conducted in Spain reported that consumption of both polyunsaturated fatty acids (found in nuts, seeds, fish, and leafy green vegetables) and monounsaturated fatty acids (found in olive oil, avocados, and nuts) decreases the risk for depression over time. However, there were clear dose-response relationships between dietary intake of trans fats and depression risk, whereas other data support an association between trans fats and ischemic stroke risk.[ Trans fats are found extensively in processed foods, including many commercial chocolates (hence, check that label when considering the chocolate slide below). A deficiency in polyunsaturated fatty acids has been linked to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.

Fish Oil to Fend Off Psychosis

Thanks to their high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely omega-3 fatty acids, fish can help fend off numerous diseases of the brain. A 2010 study correlated fish consumption with a lower risk for psychotic symptoms, and concurrent work suggested that fish oil may help prevent psychosis in high-risk individuals.Although data are conflicting, new research shows that the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are beneficial in depression and postpartum depression, respectively, and other research suggests that omega-3 deficiency may be a risk factor for suicide. Oily, cold-water fish, such as salmon, herring, and mackerel, have the highest omega-3 levels.

Berries for Oxidative Stress

Poly phenols, namely anthocyanins, found in berries and other darkly pigmented fruits and vegetables may slow cognitive decline through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A study in rats from 2010 showed that a diet high in strawberry, blueberry, or blackberry extract leads to a "reversal of age-related deficits in nerve function and behavior involving learning and memory." In vitro work by the same group found that strawberry, blueberry, and acai berry extracts -- albeit in very high concentrations -- can induce autophagy, a means by which cells clear debris, such as proteins linked to mental decline and memory loss. Berry anthocyanins may also reduce cardiovascular disease risk by reducing oxidative stress and attenuating inflammatory gene expression

You do not have to go it alone if you are a loved one is suffering from mental illness. We provide a safe environment for you. We  Study the CAMI support group material, we get real with one another and we have been there ourselves. We get it!  We don’t blame or shame the victims and we consider it a privilege to be called to this ministry. Come join us every Thursday night from 7:00 - 8:15, every Thursday night at Boca Glades Baptist Church, 10101 Judge Winikoff Road,Boca Raton, Florida, 333428. If you have questions call our office at 561-909-9109.
CAMI is a ministry of Heartfelt Counseling. The groups are led by Steve and Robyn Bloem. They are the co-founders of Heartfelt Counseling Ministries and published authors and are available for seminars and speaking engagements.

Please se my part 1 of this blog by going to http://sbloemreflections.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-help-with-depression-vitamins-and.html







http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Minds-Healing-Youre-Losing-ebook/dp/B004EPYNLE/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=