I loved the article, and I am able to know all off it is spot on. My own 'hell' was with OCD and the spin off, anxiety. This was from 1992 onwards, but worse in the mid 90's. I was quite psychotic in doing compulsions with numbers (doing everything 8 times). My favourite number is still 8, but my compulsions are gone. It went when I took the medication (Aropax - Australian name). However it was just suppressed. It was thirteen to forteen years later I went off the meds (every 2nd day, then every forth, then nothing). The real reason for my anxiety, depresssion was emotional problems, terrible diet. The OCD was me naturally. I am a creative person, I am a sensitive person, and I am very perceptive. The 'mental disorder', was me naturally. The depression was due to my diet of bread, wheat, sugar, fried food, and really no actual nurition at all. My body was 'stressed', and I felt it.

I enjoyed the article on the five foods for beating depression, however...wouldn't Organic Hemp Oil be a more friendly, environmentally sustainable, source of Omega 3 than fish oil?
Thanks,
Jim

This was an excellent article!! I am been researching aggressively for the past year for approaches to end what they have labeled for me as "anxiety" I will take these as well as do you have specific foods that help with anxiety? Or would it be the same?

THANKS=P

Your advice on eating low fat is so out-dated. You also mention about whole wheat but never mention about sprouted whole wheat which also needs to be addressed.

George Watson's book: Nutrition and Your Mind,
and Rudolf Wiley's books: Biobalance I and II
(you don't need to read Biobalance I, just read II, if you haven't read either) are both very helpful for many kinds of "mental health" disorders, including depression. I've read both, in addition to Gabriel Cousens' books. I tried Cousens' approach, by eating raw foods, but this didn't help at all (as far as I could see). After many months I went more in the direction of Watson and Wiley.
I eat lots of brown rice and cabbage salad with hemp oil and hemp seeds now, thanks for the information that I'm on a good track.

Although it is true that hemp oil and other plant based oils may be more environmentally friendly as Jim mentioned above, the reason fish oils are considered more functional and more effective is because about 50% of the population does not properly convert plant oils to EPA and DHA, which of course the brain needs to combat depression and mood challenges.

No mention of magnesium from greens? That would be my first suggestion; eat more magnesium.

Those are all good suggestions, but sometimes (like when you're more than mildly or moderately depressed) drugs are the only thing that do work.
Why does one have to be *better than* the other? When a person is depressed, does it really matter what works for them, as long as SOMETHING does?

This was very helpful, and true. I personally know of two different people whose lives have been dramatically improved with prescribed medication, however. In periods where they are only using natural remedies and not on medication, the darkness settles in. So, they do work for some people. I also know someone who does not use any medication, it didn't work for her - she takes fish oil and vitamin D, and exercises, and is well.

Thanks for the article. I too have been following this trail of depression and anxiety personally and with my mum I would like to add some things that have been missed.
The most important underlying factor in depression, anxiety and most other modern disease is the lack of good bacteria in the gut & the fat soluble vits; A,D and K2 found in animal saturated fats. Saturated fats nourish the central nervous system, increase immunity & protect from environmental toxins including dangerous chemical food additives. Sunshine is another excellent source of vit D. Best foods to supply these vit are egg yolks, oily fish, cod liver oil (fermented), tallow (beef fat), lard (free range pig fat), chicken & duck fat, butter (especially RAW), raw milk (called "Bath Milk") and cream from grass fed animals.
Good bacteria can be found in fermented dairy such as kefir or home made yogurt, fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut (the only way cabbage should be eaten as unfermented cabbage suppresses thyroid function), good wine and unpasteurised beer, kombucha etc. There are probioctics such as Inner health plus that are very effective but its always better to source this bacteria from food. There is an excellent book called "Gut and Psychology Syndrome" by Natasha Campbell - Mc Bride that explains how our mental condition is directly related to our gut and diet (this theory has been proven before too).
Minerals aren't properly assimilated without saturated animal fats and a good gut balance of bacteria. Sadly, low fat diets built mainly on vegetables, grains will cause more metal illness and even suicide.

My mother finally came off her anti-depressent meds after 15 years. She had replaced all bad fats (transfats) like margarine, canola oil etc with good animal fats like lard and butter (see the "Oiling Of America" DVD based on Mary Enigs book, presented by Sally Fallon). She started drink raw milk kefir (an excellent probiotics and source of fats soluble vitamins that are easily assimilated and aid digestion). She has been off drugs completely after a 7 month reduction process, now 5.5 months and she is so happy, motivated and full of life. She has since learnt that her anxiety and panic attacks were directly related to MSG and not a side effect of depression! Mum, now 57 has recently joined yoga & a computer course!

I cured/healed myself of addiction (8years) and depression (5 years ago) with fermented cod liver oil, animal foods that included fats and raw milk kefir after 12 years of strict vegetarianism. I have never been so consistently well and happy all my life, I am 37!

My close friends daughter suffered serious anxiety attacks every morning at school drop off for 3.5 years, she is now 8.5 yo. On a diet of soy, vegetable oils and low/no animal fats. Anxiety ended almost over night after RAW milk, butter and fatty meats were added and soy stopped!

The "darkness" is connected to low fat, gut damage and processed foods.

Grains must be prepared propely before they are consumed or they are useless, even harmful by either soaking or by fermentation. Soy should never be consumed as milk.

I agree with the respondent that noted that meds aren't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes we can be so "ill" that we need medications which is one of the wonders of modern medicine- it is the best of crisis intervention. BUT a lot is being written about the value of good nutrition for mental health concerns and we should heed this advice for our general good mental health. For myself,i am using a commercial product that is sooooooo good at lifting my mood that i am able to start to lower the medications i am using JUST REMEMBER that while nutrition can assist with physiological problems it will not cure any underlying socially causative factors - for that we need therapy

Therapy is only good if the brain and body are not in a fight or flight mode from toxins, such as any medication. It would be hard for the body/brain connection to be activated during any therapy when the body is being poisoned with medication. The poisoning effects are listed on the back or insert of each medication. Try Dr. Breggain's book, "Your Drug May Be Your Problem: How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Drugs. The people damaged by these drugs and the entire medication culture are the ones who defend it the most. A person taking 10 meds defends them more aggressively than someone taking 5. We are here for these people but they need to work toward the truth regarding the industry that keeps them sick.

I agree with you Jason.
Medications ARE a bad thing. They cause more damage to a system already so depleted. St Johns wart herbal tincture is powerful enough to support someone while correcting their diet and nourishing their system with the necessary saturated fats, vit and minerals. Along with caring loving support by a person.

Did you know that almost all those kids in America that shot up their classrooms, family etc were on anti-depressent drugs or psych drugs? Drugs like these cause a state of "mania" in some people. Even those mothers or fathers that killed their families/children before killing themselves were on these drugs!
Suicide is also a side effect of these drugs and its not because these people were depressed/mentally unwell but because of the actual drugs!
The biggest factor in this modern disease is the low fat diet and processed foods but you'll never hear that from your doc!
Some excellent reading on nutrition, read about Dr Weston A Price who studied 14 isolated indigenous groups around the world in the 1920's and 30's over a ten yr period. Discover why these people had perfect physical and mental health and were free from decay. See www.westonaprice.org or the Price-Pottenger Foundation.

Good article, St Johns Wart (Hypericum Perforatum)and Niacin (vitamin B3)deserve a mention as an aid to help combat depression. Since the 1850s the western diet has been deficient in Essential Fatty acids primarily Omega 3s. Since 60% of the dry weight of the brain is fat in a 50-50 ratio of n-3 and n-6s we should supplement these into our diets. Fish don't make DHA they get it from the food chain which when folled to the source is from single celled red brown algae and there are superior cleaner sources of DHA in products like Udo's Oil DHA Blend. Prior to the fish oil industry it was common knowledge the body converted seed oils to DHA & EPA if this was not true then the Hindu Indian population would be blind, dumb and unable to reproduce as DHA is required for these functions.

I found by simply chewing tasting and salivating my food has really increased all areas of my health especially the mental/emotional department. Try it. Consider yourself lucky you stumbled onto my comment and thank the universe when it works for you. Chew to a paste but after you learn it's very meditative/instinctual and self-propelling. Please try!

You forgot about cashews...as per Dr. Andrew Saul.

I'm glad that you're tackling the issue that depression can be resolved with diet. I'd add a couple things - 1) Exercise is very important for tackling depression. Exercise creates a sense of well being and contributes to fighting depression. 2) Be cautious
about whole sale recommendation of specific foods to resolve depression. I'm very sensitive to oats, can't tolerate them at all and wouldn't ever eat them. Eating them has a negative impact on my mental and physiccal health. Additionally, anyone suffering
from celiac disease or gluten sensitivity (and doesn't know it) can benefit from cutting gluten (wheat, rye, barley) from their diet as untreated gluten sensitivity and celiac disease can cause depression. Yes folks, gluten affects your brain. Last, but not
least, avoiding processed foods in favor of whole foods can also improve mental health

Great article. I was in full blown depression, not eating, sleeping all the time, sad, no energy. I went on meds and they at least helped me get out of bed. What helped the most was reading The Depression Cure: 6 steps to beating depressin with out meds.
1. Omega 3's 2. Stop ruminating (negative thinking) 3. Exercise 4. Light (sun or light box) 5. Get involved (church, club, hobby). 6. Sleep. After 6 weeks and implanting all 6 steps I was down to very low dose of meds and felt AMAZING. When I stopped doing
all 6, I could feel the depression coming back. I loved this article and plan on implenting these foods into my already very "healthy" diet.