Natural Ways of Dealing With Depression

Here are a number of non-drug methods of improving depression. Do not embark on this programme without the guidance of a nutritionist skilled and experienced in this area, as you will be taking mega doses of certain vitamins and amino acids, which could have side effects if not monitored closely.

• Consume a large, varied wholefood diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, and low in saturated fats. Take your fats from mono and polyunsaturated fats (avoid cooking with the latter). Don’t eat too much or little fat.
• Investigate whether you have any food allergies or intolerances (especially to common allergens like dairy products, wheat, corn or yeast).
• Cut out caffeine and refined sugar.
• Consider taking daily supplements of B Vitamins (including 300 ug biotin and 50-100 mg of B6), vitamin C (1000mg), calcium (if you are shown to have low blood calcium). You could also try iron, copper, magnesium, potassium and omega-6 fatty acids (1 gram 3 times daily of evening primrose oil), shown to be low in depressed patients.
• If tests prove that you are low in stomach acid, consider hydrochloric acid supplementation.
• Exercise regularly. When half a group of people hospitalised for depression did one hour of aerobic exercise three times a week for nine weeks, their depression scores were significantly lower than the group who did not exercise(Br Med J, 1985)
• Talk to trained therapist or counsellor. A recent Oxford study showed that six sessions with a qualified therapist or counsellor were just as helpful and much safer than a powerful drug.