Diet Helps Prevent Depression

The World Health Organisation has forecast that depression is going to become the second most common disease by 2020.
This is mainly due to many people around the world eating a diet high in unhealthy fats, fried, sugary or refined foods.
Several research studies have highlighted that such a diet can defintely increase the likelihood of depression. Often when this occurs, the individual will see a doctor who usually prescribes anti-depressants, which does not do anything to alleviate long term mental and physical health problems . A healthy diet is a diet high in vegetables, fruits, and fish which helps prevent depression.
A study conducted between 1985 to 2004 shows that there is a clear relationship between unhealthy dietary options and depression. Given these published results, British health advocates are imminently going to be recommending diets high in unprocessed foods particularly to combat depression.
The food we eat controls the levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which monitor behaviour; neurotransmitters are closely related to moods.
Studies highlight that the neurotransmitters most often linked to moods are serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. When the brain produces serotonin, we relax and feel more happy. When the brain produces dopamine or norepinephrine, individuals become more alert and are more prone to think and act more quickly.
A diet high is fresh fruit and veg increase the level of trytophan in the brain; thus the increase in serotonin production has a calming effect. Whereas, high protein foods increase the production of dopamine and norepineprine, enhancing alertness.
Eating junk food as well as sugary foods lowers the levels of these hormones in our brain, thus increasing stress and tension, and decreasing our ability to feel joy and alertness.