After a tremendous response to last weeks blogs on depression, I received emails to talk more about prevention during the hoiday season. You asked and you shall receive. Today I will discuss the foods of the holiday and depression.
Depression triggers
Sugar, starch, caffeine, and alcohol are bonded to the holiday celebration. They are also the same ingredients that rob your body's natural defenses against depression. When they flood your body they burn up your B vitamin supply within. In simple terms your body depends on those vitamins to fight depression. Compensating with energy drinks doesn't help either. They are very heavily sugar based. Just because something is all natural doesn't mean it is good for you.
You don't have to go into retreat
You do have to watch how much you put into your body. The boost you get from sugar and coffee can have emotional payback if not taken in moderation. Enjoy but draw a line. If you are a bit depressed to start with forgo the alcohol. Chemically sugar, starch and alcohol are the same to your body. That's why the combo and depression are a time bomb.
A common mistake
There is a myth that overloading with B vitamins will give you some sort of immunity. First of all the body will only take on some much and pass the rest through. Second of all it has been shown that overloading can cause the body to reject any vitamin no matter how low the dose after a while. What happens is a natural defense system in your body is tricked into thinking it should be repelled at all times.
The keys once again
Have a good friend and family based support group. Talk, communicate and work on being physically active. Depressive emotions give you the feeling of isolation. Learn to work through it with someone you can depend on. And enjoy the holiday in moderation. Be careful if you are on medication and don't given in to the temptation to have that celebration drink or shot. It could just take all the celebration out of your holiday.
A late entry:
I have been getting emails questioning if total avoidance is preferred. As I have answered to others, No. Enjoy being part of the holiday and eat the foods with moderation except watch it with alcohol especially if you are an medication.
All a point I missed and should have touched on, some depression can be caused by food allergies. I rarely hear of anyone being tested for those. If you do suffer from depression you should be screened for food allergies. Most HMO's require a doctor to request this and I have heard of some fighting it. It's your life, your health don't leave any stone unturned.
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