The CDC estimates a worrying trend of a tripling population of people suffering from depression in America. This makes depression a serious mental illness that calls for concern and monitoring. Although many depressed people turn to food as a remedy, research shows that most of them make poor choices by becoming culprits of foods containing refined sugars, saturated fats, caffeine, and foods with heavily processed ingredients.
There is no proof that food is a perfect remedy for depression. Nevertheless, sticking to a healthy diet and exercising regularly makes it easy to manage depression. A good diet promotes quality sleep, which becomes the first step to depression management. For those depressed or know friends and family members suffering from depression, being conscious of which foods impact moods can help better manage symptoms of depression.
We understand that depression may lead to a complete lack of interest, making it difficult to research or even collect and prepare these foods. Lucky for you, sunbasket review 2022 offers a variety of such foods, prepares, and even delivers foods of your choice, leaving you with only one responsibility, to enjoy well-prepared food and get back to the right mood.
Foods to avoid in 2022
The first step to controlling depression is choosing to take meals at regular intervals and picking the right foods. There are certain foods that depressed people should completely avoid.
Alcohol and other illegal drugs
When depressed, the first thing that would come to mind is a short-term solution such as taking alcohol, marijuana, and other strong stimulants. These drugs are associated with short-term relief and may make someone think they have managed their depression. However, being high on these drugs places an individual at more risk, and those on other depressants may begin to experience side effects.
Sugary foods and caffeine
When experiencing depression symptoms, the best cause of action is to reduce caffeine uptake given its effects on the body, such as sleep disruption and anxiety. Additionally, depressed individuals should also lower their sugar uptake since sugar may give a false energy level that fades quickly.
Foods to eat daily to help beat depression
- Dark leafy greens
Dark leafy greens are always nutrient-dense and thus help in inflammation-fighting. These foods provide the most powerful immune-boosting capacity and also help fight cancer. In terms of their role in fighting depression, dark leafy greens help fight brain inflammation linked with depression.
Among the dark leafy vegetables recommended, Spinach, Onions, Beans, Kale, and Berries provide a variety of vitamins like A, C, E, and K and phytochemicals. If you are stuck on where to start or don’t know how to prepare some of these dark leafy greens, meal delivery services is always a great way to get started.
- Mushrooms
Mushrooms play a critical role in lowering blood sugar levels and thus help contain moods associated with depression. First, mushrooms are probiotic and contribute to the healthy growth of gut bacteria, leading to intestinal health. Secondly, mushroom consumption helps oppose insulin, thus lowering the blood sugar level and helping control depressions.
You can choose a mushroom diet and have your meals prepared and delivered right to your doorstep.
- Fish
The role of omega-3 in the body cannot be overemphasized further, making fish an important food for those experiencing depression. Omega-3 helps improve brain function and thus helps manage depression symptoms.
Fish varieties such as salmon, trout, and tuna are oily and provide the greatest supply of omega-3 and help manage depression symptoms.
- Poultry
Poultry, especially chicken and turkey that provide lean protein, have proven beneficial in helping stabilize blood sugar levels and thus depression management by keeping the mood balanced.
Turkey and chicken also act as sources of tryptophan which helps create serotine, a good recipe for balanced mood and sound sleep, helping manage depression.
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- Apples
Apples provide the body with antioxidants that help repair oxidation damage and inflammation, especially on the cellular level. A single apple is rich in soluble fiber enough to balance blood sugar swings and give you the much-desired change of moods.
You deserve to be happy, and depression should not make you feel any blue or dictate your life to start craving calorie-rich foods. Adopting lifestyles such as alcohol and substance uptake or even taking sugar and caffeine may provide short term solutions but, in the end, destroy your life.
You can choose and have a changed lifestyle that embraces wholesome foods proven to have the ability to boost your mood, lower symptoms of depression, and overall give you good health. When overwhelmed on what food to choose or how to prepare one, Sunbasket provides you with a good variety of healthy foods for your depression control.