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Some Powerful Natural Antidepressants

By Ben Mester

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Published: 04Nov2010
Word count: 775
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Are there really natural antidepressants out there powerful enough to help in the growing epidemic of depression? The answer is a definite yes. The brain is a very complex organ, controlling all other parts and systems of the body. Something as simple as one chemical imbalance, like serotonin, can cause the onset of depression. And once the onset of depression happens, it's easy to see how a downward spiral can ensue. According to much current research, poor diet and exercise habits are among the top contributors to depression. So if poor diet and exercise can bring on the onset of depression, and if depression often leads to a lack of exercise and poor eating habits, then it's easy to see how simple things and habits might break the downward spiral of depression. But this article will get into more than that. In this article we will discuss proven natural antidepressants and why they work.

1) Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids. I've talked a lot about Omega 3 EFAs in many other articles. They're absolutely essential to proper brain function because the working surface of the brain and gray matter are made up of Omega 3 EFAs. Another very important piece of information is that Omega 3 EFAs are increasingly being diminished in the normal food supply due to some specific corporate farming methods that are increasing the supply of Omega 6 EFAs and diminishing the supply of Omega 3s.

But getting more specific about Omega 3s as natural antidepressants. According to Joseph Hibbeln MD, author of a few compelling studies on fish consumption linked to depression, "In the last century, [Western] diets have radically changed and we eat grossly fewer omega-3 fatty acids now. We also know that rates of depression have radically increased by perhaps a hundred-fold." In clinical studies, the Omega 3 component DHA was shown to be directly helpful in battling chronic depression.

2) Balanced Diet Full of Amino Acids. Most commonly caused by an unbalanced diet lacking in amino acids, many people suffer from what's known as Neurotransmitter Deficiency Disorder. This ailment can cause a number of conditions such as depression, fatigue, obesity and more. The basic idea is this. The body needs amino acids in great supply. In fact there are over 20 amino acids that the body needs, 8 of which it can't make on its own. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and proteins aren't all just muscles. Most hormones and enzymes are proteins, and so are most neurotransmitters used in the brain. A diet deficient in amino acids can quickly make a person feel very lousy. Many of the essential chemicals the body uses will begin to decrease in production, and as a result, the metabolism will often slow, making a person feel fatigued and out of energy.

The problem with many depression drugs is that they can actually deplete levels of neurotransmitters over time. Drugs known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI) including Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa, and Wellbutrin work by artificially boosting serotonin allowing for a temporary benefit to the chemical messaging system. However, these drugs don't actually boost serotonin levels and will actually often cause a depletion of neurotransmitters over time due to a couple of different factors. So if you aren't giving your body a boost in the building blocks of the neurotransmitters, aka amino acids, you may never see a permanent change for the better.

3) Brain Stimulating Natural Supplements. There are many natural supplements out there that are able to help in the production and release of the hormones and neurotransmitters that the brain uses on a regular basis. Many of the compounds found in brain stimulating natural supplements are actually specific amino acids, which you learned about in the above point. When brain chemistry isn't at 100%, you can't just take a supplement that will fill in the gap like you would if you had a vitamin C deficiency. Instead, there are supplements out there that are basically the natural building blocks for brain chemicals that when metabolized, the body will process them into the essential hormones and neurotransmitters that it needs.

4) Exercise. I know that it sounds like I'm preaching a tired old message, diet and exercise. But that's only because it's true. A proper diet and regular exercise will do wonders for the body. We've already covered diet. Exercise is important for brain chemistry because it's been shown that exercise actually causes a release of serotonin in the body, making a person feel happy, content, and alive. I've noticed this phenomenon myself, being a person who exercises routinely. After a good workout, I feel a boost in vitality and spirits. Many others have reported the exact same thing.

Natural antidepressants can be very powerful and effective when done correctly. For more about brain chemistry and supplements, check out my other article on Dopamine Supplements.

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