Is Your Diet Making You Feel Depressed?

In a society where obesity is so prevalent, it is hard to believe that nutritional deficiencies are fairly common.

Simply put, we are overfed but malnourished.

There is growing research showing a significant correlation of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, with certain nutritional deficiencies.

Typically, these disorders are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain, or are emotionally rooted and are treated with medications and/or psychotherapy.

Nutritional therapy can play a key role in the duration and severity of these conditions, improve the effectiveness of medications and correct the underlying cause.

The more common nutrients people are deficient in:

• B vitamins — These nutrients play a critical role in the function of your brain and nervous system.

The two B vitamins that appear to have the strongest effect on mental and emotional wellness include Folate (Vitamin B9) and Cobalamin (Vitamin B12).

Deficiencies of these vitamins often present as depression, dementia, fatigue and confusion. Other B vitamins, including Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), and Pyridoxine (B6), also play a large part with mood regulation and stability.

Folate is most readily found in the leaves of plants. These types of foods are often missing in processed foods. Low folate levels are linked to poor success with antidepressant therapy. If you need to supplement with folate, I recommend using a natural form such as methylfolate, which is easier for the body to absorb and utilize versus the synthetic form — folic acid.

Deficiency of Vitamin B12 becomes more common with each decade of life after 30 years because it becomes difficult to absorb from the foods you eat. Vitamin B12 deficiencies are also commonly seen in vegetarians since most food sources of the vitamin are found in fish and animal sources.

• Vitamin C — This is the most popular vitamin supplement and for good reason. When it comes to brain health, vitamin C helps with neurotransmitter production, including serotonin, the “feel good” molecule.

A recent study showed people given vitamin C felt happier in as little time as one week.

• Vitamin D — It is estimated that up to 80 percent of Americans are deficient in the “Sunshine Vitamin.”Low levels of vitamin D are correlated with increased levels of depression. A study by VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam found that low levels of vitamin D may be linked to depression and other psychiatric illnesses. People with vitamin D levels below 20 ng/ml had an 85 percent increased risk of depression compared to those with vitamin D levels above 30 ng/ml.2

• Magnesium — Research has shown that 70 to 80 percent of the population does not consume the daily recommended allowance of magnesium. Magnesium deficiencies are often misdiagnosed because only 1 percent of the body’s magnesium is in the blood. A special test must be performed to determine if there is a deficiency. Magnesium deficiency can affect all of the systems in your body, although when it comes to mental and emotional health, a variety of issues can arise, including impaired cognitive function, irritability, poor memory, anxiety and depression.

• Zinc — Vegetarian and processed diets usually come up short for this essential mineral. Zinc plays a critical part in the brain and body’s response to stress. In fact, the highest amount of zinc in the body is found in the brain. Zinc deficiency can lead to symptoms of depression, ADHD, difficulties with learning and memory, and seizures.3

• Omega-3 EFAs — Your brain is the fattest organ in your body. 60 percent of the fat is DHA, an omega-3 essential fatty acid found predominantly in fish or fish oil. The body is unable to make DHA, so it must be obtained through food or supplementation. Most people today consume very little omega-3 EFAs and overconsume omega-6 EFAs found in oils such as corn, soybean and canola. Clinical studies have shown that optimizing levels of omega-3 EFAs is beneficial for people with depression and mood instability.

• Amino Acids — Protein is made up of amino acids. Many of the neurotransmitters in the brain are made from amino acids. A diet rich in high-quality protein sources from animal sources provides these amino acids. Plant proteins are low in several of the essential amino acids to make neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitter dopamine is made from the amino acid tyrosine, while the neurotransmitter serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan. A deficiency of either of these amino acids will cause imbalances in the neurotransmitters leading to low mood, depression, and aggression.