Foods that support Nutrition in depression.

What are antidepressant foods?

About 12 nutrients in our diets are known to be helpful in preventing and recovering from depression. There are studies that have tested the density of these nutrient in both animal and plant based foods.

What nutrients are preventive and supportive for Depression?

Twelve Antidepressant Nutrients are known to have a rôle in prevention and treatment of depressive disorders: Folate, iron, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), magnesium, potassium, selenium, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and zinc.

What are the foods that are high in the above nutrients?

The animal based foods that are rich in the above nutrients include oysters and mussels, various seafoods, and organ meats. The plant based foods include leafy greens, lettuces, peppers, and cruciferous vegetables.

What rôle does EPA, DHA and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids play in depression and other psychiatric disorders?

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids constitute key regulating factors of neuro-transmission, neuro-genesis, and neuro-inflammation and are fundamental for development, functioning, and aging of the Central Nervous System (CNS). These processes are effected in various psychiatric disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Bottom Line

Though the research data is not fully consistent about Omega-3 Fatty Acid, there is enough data that supports the benefits of EPA supplement in a dose of 1-2 g/ day and a ratio of EPA/DHA of more than 2 is beneficial for depression as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .

Cautions:

A better diet can help, but it’s only one part of treatment. It’s important to note that just like you cannot exercise out of a bad diet, you also cannot eat your way out of feeling depressed or anxious.

We should be careful about using food as the only treatment for mood, please consult a professional for a complete assessment of your treatment needs. Food is not going to impact serious forms of depression and thoughts of suicide, and it is important to go to an emergency room or contact your doctor if you are experiencing thoughts about harming yourself.

Reference:

Dietary Recommendations for prevention of depression-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26317148/

International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research Practice Guidelines for Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31480057

Antidepressant foods: An evidence-based nutrient profiling system for depression https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6147775/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30254980 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28536068

Meds vs TMS: How does TMS work and how is it different from antidepressant medications?

Our goal here at TMS of Wilmington is to provide the most comprehensive and highest standard of care for patients with depression, helping to bring their minds and bodies back to a balance.

Major depression can cause changes within a variety of systems, such as

  • Genetic
  • Biochemical
  • Electrophysiological
  • Anatomical – functional connectivity in various brain networks. Functional connectivity refers to the ability for multiple regions of the brain to fire at the same time.

Since there are changes across all of these systems, modern research regarding details of changes in these systems is helping to develop multi-targeted therapies that work better than the conventional antidepressant medication treatment. Antidepressants serve to address depression from a biochemical perspective as compared to TMS, which is addressing depression from an electrophysiological perspective.

In the TMS procedure, a magnetic field is projected into a specific area in the frontal lobe of the brain,i.e left DLPFC, left Dorsolateral prefrontal Cortex that is responsible for regulating mood. The left DLPFC also connects with other deeper areas of the brain  as part of a Large Scale Network. In particular, TMS targets the neural circuit of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, default mode network, central executive network, and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The magnetic field repetitively sent into the brain increases the activity in these neural network that fail to function properly in patients with depression and enhances the inter-connectivity ,while you are taking the medication. Using antidepressant medication can have a variety of side effects, unlike TMS where side effects are relatively limited.

Another modality of treating treatment-resistant depression is using Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT also addresses depression from an electrophysiological perspective like TMS. However, it has some very significant downsides compared to TMS. It is an invasive process only carried out in a hospital setting as it requires the patient to be under anesthesia. Additionally, it can cause memory loss and affect normal functioning while you are going through the treatment process. The patient will need support from someone to drive them after every treatment.

On the other hand, TMS is a noninvasive process that does not affect normal functioning. The patient is fully awake and can converse even during the treatment and can even drive and go back to work directly afterward. The only side effect with TMS can be scalp discomfort only while doing the treatment.