Forum: Better Nutrition Needed, Not Drugs
As a Clinical Nutritionist I look at the problem of depression in a entirely different point of view from the drug oriented approach by most doctors. This should be seen as a theoretical discussion with no implied solution.Drug oriented therapists look at the end products of human metabolism. Thus when doctors claim quite rightly that depression is due to a deficiency of serotonin, or dopamine, or norepinephrine, they naturally look for drugs that can rectify the direct supply of the neurotransmitters involved. Thus most antidepressant drugs, of which there is one for every letter of the alphabet, all aim at increasing the amount of serotonin - the feel good neurotransmitter - by inhibiting the reuptake of available serotonin in the brain. Unfortunately every drug, that is foreign to the body is seen by the body as a toxin and it will set up defence mechanisms to rid the body of that toxin. This work is mainly done in the liver. The detoxification processes in the liver require among others vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Thus people on drugs are likely to be deficient in vitamin B6, which means the body has not sufficient B6 to convert tryptophan obtained from foods into serotonin. One of the signs of vitamin B6 deficiency is inability to recall dreams. Another test is measuring the amount of xanthurenic acid in the urine a by-product of tryptophan and having carcinogenic properties.
One has to question the psychiatric profession for NOT prescribing NATURAL forerunners of various neurotransmitters, such as 5-HTP, an immediate forerunner of serotonin. I have to leave it up to you to work out why this would be so from a political and economic point of view.
The drug-concept has also been adopted by so called ‘natural’ therapists, whose business it is to suggest natural end-products to beat depression, such as St John’s Wort, SAM-E and so on. St John’s Wort works in a similar fashion as a SSRI in that it inhibits serotonin reuptake. Natural end-products are perhaps preferable to chemical drugs, in that they have fewer side effects and essential parts of its own metabolism. Of course, the economics of natural psychotropic agents has features with the drug industry: it is powered by the money-making engine of human behaviour.
There are other nutrients that can alleviate depression, one of these is niacin (vitamin B3). If the body is deficient in vitamin B3, it will use available tryptophan to convert it to niacin at the rate of 60:1. This will leave little tryptophan for conversion to serotonin. However if you don’t have a niacin deficiency, supplementation is not going to help. This explains why ‘end-products’ work for some people and not for others. This applies equally to drug therapy, which can just miss its target!
I am always amazed how people overlook a much simpler solution to depression, but of course few can make money out of that. The concept I have in mind is that the body builds and manufactures its own neurotransmitters and enzymes, co-enzymes, hormones and so on, from the raw material it ingests from foods. The human machine is just miraculous, it knows exactly what it needs and doesn’t needs. It sorts out all the resources needed disregard the rest that is excreted from the body.
The big picture of depression is that the body is exposed to too much energy rich foods, such as refined carbohydrates and too little proteins, the brick and mortar of the human body, from which is constructs the tangible parts of the body. This is industry driven, that pushes sugar down our throats in every available man-made food item to increase sales. Sugar is addictive!!!! and does it s own PR work for manufacturers.
The high sugar content of our food is responsible for many of our mental illnesses, because it cause insulin resistance, unstable blood sugar levels, raised stress hormones.
The answer to depression is nutrition, not so much drugs or psychotherapy, but acceptance of such a radical idea needs a mind shift.
Jurriaan Plesman
Free Web Site at
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
fast drugs nobody wants to try anything healthy because the high is different. most people want to be outside themselves. sure it starts with illness and the idea of suffering is ancient so we take our narcotics or our mood altering drugs because a doctor says try it even though we tell them we are allergic to many things they say oh well this won’t hurt you..well every psychotropic drug has weight gain, bloating, or some other chemical change without it in the end after the drug alters our chemistry well you’re more messed up than before.
any drug that alters your chemistry via synthetic is negative> try good nutrition it works brewers yeast in shakes, carrot juices, so many things we can blend up in the morning instead of popping that pill.
buy a blender and try it for the same time you’d try
these toxic drugs equals toxic chemistry i guarantee after two days you’ll feel a change.
and exercise you must move ,
nobody wants to work anymore>
well try it or we all go to hell in a hand basket.
good luck
RIGHT ON PATTY
BRAVE OF YOU TO SAY ALL THAT.
MY SISTER DID JUST THAT AND TODAY
SHE’S HAPPIER THAN I’VE EVER SEEN.
THANKS
I used 5-HTP to get off effexor. It seemed to work for a while but then I started to feel fits of rage, even when I reduced the dosage to 25mg/day.
I’ve tried everything st. john’s wert, valerian, ginseng, ginkgo, vitamins, 5-HTP, nutrition regimens, detox, etc. I’ve resigned myself to taking effexor and clonozepam for the rest of my life. I come from a bad gene pool: bipolar 1, paranoid schizophrenia, pyschopathy–some people just can’t be fixed by good nutrition, detoxing and vitamin supplements–we’re just broken and psychotropic drugs holds us together.
I was born a math prodigy with an IQ in the stratosphere–now I’m a borderline psychopath that can’t remember what he did a week ago. That’s just the way it is. Life is a total comedown & I long for death. By my insane calculations, most of us will be dead by May 5, 2014.
I am soo glad someone else is looking at this issue the way I am. After 40+ years of depression, its about time we began looking at our bodies in light of its natural functioning power. If we feed it properly, it will work properly.
People need to go beyond self treatment and look for bio-chemical testing to find out individual deficiencies. Some clinics do just that. Then they compound needs into vitamin and mineral supplement capsules. Its a long process, but I’ve been able to get off of one drug so far.
I have been using a naturalpathic doctor for the past seven months after getting off effexor(on for 14 years)and it was the best move I’ve made in a long time. Found out that I have deficiencies in zinc, magnesium, oleic acid and B vitamins and that my thyroid is not working properly. What a huge difference after taking natural supplementation and eating organic fruits and vegetables has made in my mental and physical condition. The weight gain that came with the effexor is starting to leave and my brain feels like it’s working like it should. Chromimum has helped also. I don’t see how our bodies can crave anti-depressants when they really crave nutrition. No wonder so many people are struggling with depression and weight gain.
I have to wonder.. Has Nancy ever suffered from depression? What about bi-polar? I am a health enthusiast and do my very best to avoid refined sugars when I can. But regardless of any vitamins or supplements I take, or foods I avoid, depression and mania are inevitable. It is an endless cycle. I have been off of medication for 4 years and have been extremely conscious of my nutrition and vitamin intake – no help.
I just have to wonder… is she talking about CLINICAL depression? or Situational depression?
Preston,
This post was written by Jurriaan Plesman, whose contact information is located at the end of the post. I’m not sure what his history with depression is. My own history with depression is that I suffered from it throughout most of my lifetime, starting at the age of 7. I can vouch for the fact that nutritional factors can and do play a role in depression. Not for every individual, of course, but for many of us it does. I think I differ with Jurriaan in that I don’t think it’s the complete answer for everyone.
Nancy,
Before I respond since I had to give you my emial address to sign up can you please let me know if excessive sweet fruits can do the same damage as regular sugar. I tried raw honey and even that my body did not respond well to.
Now
Excellent work with your article!!!!!.You confirmed and validation what I already believed.
I am on a host of meds and take aspirin daily. meds are for depression and anxiety. I believe as you do.
Sad. I have prescription plan and get very,very expensive medications for free. I am hurting financially right now so I cant afford to buy and more supplements.
I did research and it shows sunshine and exercsie and meditation and keeping sugar to a very low level all increase serotonin and relive depression.Eating salmon and taking fish oils can also help with low serotonin.
Dopmaine is increase by laughter and being around supportive friends we enjoy.
Amazing how these cost free activities improve our mood.
Keep up the good work.
I have digestive problems and my body does not absorb any of the vitamins I could take orally. I have been taking a B complex that mels under the tongue, but it doesn’t seem to help. I’ve had pretty severe depression since I lost my job in June and without proper insurance, cannot afford the psychologist I was seeing for this. Also, it’s more difficult for me to find work with this digestive problem (IBS-D – considered a disability where I used to work.) Someone suggested B3. Are there B3 supplement patches or sublinguals I could take? Any suggestions on anything else that might work? I can’t take prescription drugs because my system doesn’t process them like a normal person’s would and I get real sick from them. The doctors have given up on me for depression prescriptions. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I, too, have suffered from depression, both in my adolescence and more recently post-natal depression. I also have digestion issues and problems with absorption. I began taking a number of dietary supplements and eating more raw fruit and vegies about 6 years ago, but it was not until I started taking glyconutrients that I really felt a lot better. I now take them daily with probiotics (which are important for digestion and nutrient absorption, as well as helping with food intolerances and immune function), spirulina, essential fatty acids, green barley powder, antioxidants and a wild yam hormone support supplement.
I had been feeling pretty good until recently when I had a couple of fillings done and felt really tired and depressed for several days afterwards. I did some reading and realised it was a reaction to the anaesthetic, and that it had depleted me of vitamin C. So I took some vitamin C, quite a large dose, and felt a lot better within an hour or two.
Many things can cause depression. Nutrition can always help, even if it doesn’t fix the problem completely. Vitamin C – large doses, at least a few grams per day, or maybe around 5 to 10 grams or more – is a great place to start because it is inexpensive. I would also highly recommend glyconutrients. They are involved in the structure and function of probably every cell in the body, and are very beneficial for a great many health issues.
Remember that with nutrition/vitamin therapy, large doses are required. If it’s not working, then either you’re not taking enough, you haven’t taken it for long enough, you’re taking the wrong nutrient, or you’re only taking some of the nutrients you need and you need to take others.
I sincerely wish you all success in your quest for health. Feel free to contact me at heidi@thewhitefamily.com.au if you have anything you’d like to ask me.
Hey ppl, i’ve diggings depression.about.com when i searched google
for a heedful and upon-adequate forum, and i concluded to what’s what here)
if you secure rate for my english bad… so be it, i’m authorized learning
I am off prozac for the first time in 10 years. I am walking 2 or 3 miles 5 times a week and eating only foods that are good for me, (not man made). So far I feel great, my doctor said exercise is the key for your brain.
What I think the author is saying is that, in many cases, doctors are overlooking simple nutritional deficiencies. She does not seem to be insinuating that there are NEVER people who just have chemical depression. Please keep that in mind, everyone, when discussing. I believe this is true, because I’ve been struggling with depression for a while. Well, I decided to eat some Total cereal, because I can’t always remember to take vitamins. Unfortunately, it was really really hard on my stomach, but during those three days I felt GREAT emotionally. Two days after I stop eating it, I am down again. That’s how I got to this article; I suspect a b-vitamin deficiency. But if I had ever had the money to see a psychiatrist, I am sure I’d have been on antidepressants for years now. Thank goodness I didn’t. I may have never made this discovery.
I remember probably 20 years ago, you used to be able to buy L-Tryptophan over the counter in Vitamin or Health Food stores. I loved it because it would relieve depression and elevate my mood with using a perscription. Then, for some odd reason (which I think was contrived by the big pharas) it was taken off of the shelf. I would like to see it available over the counter again. Is there any hope for that?
Just saying hello to you all .. Still a bit confused about the goings on here, but I guess I’ll keep poking around.
“Is There A Better Treatment For Depression?” I say yes,but not if you don’t know where to look& if you’re not an avid reader re: the exploratives of such a subject…wait,before I forget “SAM-e” is NO GOOD if you’re bi-polar!I knew it was too good to be true!I mentioned “AMORYN” for depression,it’s been around on the alternative sites over 5+yrs!As far as one of the comments,saying “Not until Scientists….well,not true,because there ARE exact minerals,one can take,of course if you have the resources,like $$$,right,money,because there are the right type & the not so right!The correct amt’s of the natural plant extracts,the purity right down to the packaging process!Temperature also is a vital!Yes B6 IS good,but look at the others,like Vit D,Chromium-L-Carnosine-Quercetin-Vanadium-RhodiolaRosea! Don’t EVER mention these to any MD,they’re too threatened by the mere mention of vitamins!Alternatives? never! You may not come back! They cannot make a living if you get better,AND,they’d rather you stay sick anyway!First,they really don’t know what IS good,they only tell you what that alternatives must be “watched” for too!Dear me!you mean those pesky 2 side-effects,instead of the 10 from Prozac? Effexor? weight-gain,blowing up within one week? Do they tell you that? Oh,yes,by-the-way,you’ll “quickly” suddenly see your ankles blow up!They’re suppossed to tell you,warn you as to what to expect,& mine for 6yrs never did!Now,this new dr. said about “AMOURTHYROID” instead of Synthroid…”you have to watch out for them too,you know” he thought he was slick,until I went home & found out that Amourthyroid is BETTER and that Synthroid IS the 30lb demon that’s always been the problem!Afterall synthroid is “Synthetic” Amourthyroid” is NATURAL..watch out FDA!Greedsville is getting smaller…Seledyn for anxiety also w/ AMORYN for both depression& Anxiety? I am about to buy them both!Lithium-Synthroid is pioson,I want out of Lamictal,Gurdon etc Phyciatrists are also sicko’s/jentilpet
What a crock! Nutrition is for your physical well being. I was pretty bad until I took Lexapro. I am much better now. A nutritionist is not a doctor, and should not be giving out advice like this. Listen to your own body. If you feel better on your meds, then take them. Better for you to have a good quality of life, than to think you might be healthy for eating a carrot. I really don’t believe that nutrition has anything to do with depression.
I vouch for the fact that for some people, nutrition is the entire answer to depression. I thought I ate well, but apparently I didn’t do well enough for my particular brain. Whole foods were the answer for me, especially one particular whole food supplement based on a wild grown type of algae. My 20-year battle with depression was taken care of overnight. Then I stopped taking this supplement. A month and a half later, the depression returned. Needless to say, I started back on it. If you wish details, please contact me directly. j5adamson@verizon.net.
Whilst I agree better diets are very important, there are many instances of someone doing ‘everything right’, ie. eating properly, exercising, blahblah.. all those things we are told again and again to ‘get over it’; and they don’t work; then we end up feeling GUILTY. like we are doing something to cause this to ourselves.. NOT! sometimes, modern pharmaceuticals are necessary.
ill try this instead of drugs next time:)
Nutrition is not wrong. Medication is not wrong. Psychotherapy is not wrong. Stress reduction is not wrong. What is wrong is that people feel that there is only ONE answer to any question, but unless you are talking about MATH…there are MANY answers.
Nutrition and exercise are key factors to your body working correctly…that means voiding when you are supposed to, waking and sleeping in a regular pattern, and creating the chemicals necessary to regulate your moods and behaviors.
Your brain was formed while you were in utero. You had more synapses (brain ‘connections’) than the total population of humans on the Earth when you were born, but your experiences trimmed and shaped the excess. Unfortunately, many of us had experiences that trimmed WAY WAY WAY too much…leaving us unable to EFFECTIVELY create chemicals to regulate our behavior and mood. The body, being the most remarkable unit on Earth, can…with proper handling…re-grow or repair the damage done, in some cases. However, sometimes the damage is too excessive and sometimes the ANSWERS are not found out until WAY too late in life (this repair job takes many years…not weeks.)
If we could find the children early enough, give them exercise, nutrition, tools to deal with stress and love with boundaries, they will not be using this page in 10-20 years; but that does not help you or I.
You and I should try proper eating habits (not vitamin habits), proper exercise, psychotherapy, a night out with friends, increasing our social circle, sleep in a regular pattern (6-8 hours a day/night), medication if necessary, religion/spirituality, massages, SAY NO (to favors/YES to new experiences), relearn social etiquette (which varies per region, country etc,) or UNLEARN social etiquette and understand that depression is often a MAN-MADE disease, created by our view that we are different and lacking…when in some cultures…lacking is apex of achievement.
Just try not to say…this works…that doesn’t…there is no ethical study that we can do that will decide WHAT WORKS…but if we use it all together…and not expect miracles (Bi-Polar – Depression I or II will not be cured, if it is recurring…same goes for hypothymia/cyclothymia.) And remember, be aware of the signs…know when you need medication or hospitalization, listen to your loved ones who tell you that something isn’t right, take care of yourself…BUT don’t give up…that would be STUPID!
The nutritionist writing this theory was basing their premise on the fact that nutrition is the foundation for our health and well-being. The old saying, “you are what you eat” is not just a cliché. Excellent nutritional habits have been proven to cure many ailments and diseases—sugar and fat have both been proven to be the building stones of most ailments and diseases. I am a healthy lifestyles consultant (exercise science w/pain management) and I believe that the nutritionist has a valid theory. While neither of us are physicians, we both have studied the body in great detail and know that a healthy lifestyle (exercise, excellent nutritional habits, and some form of relaxation/meditation technique) will in most cases result in a healthier body. Our society has become so fixated on ingesting chemicals to resolve all of our ailments and diseases because the alternative, living a healthy lifestyle, means we must give up the sedentary lifestyle and fast food regimen. Again, we are not saying that living a healthier lifestyle will cure all ailments and diseases, but it is a proven foundation to alleviate most of them. A good website to visit is http://prevention.nih.gov to see all types of ailments and diseases as well as the pros and cons on a variety of treatments. As I suggest to all of my clients, research you! May God bless all of you with excellent health and wellbeing.
Lots of people are drinking green tea and eating fish oil pills or omega 3 to help them out of their depression. I have been doing it for almost a year becuase I dont have health insurance. You know what … I dont need meds just excersize, something to do, something to love and those pills, not drugs.
Hi all!
I`m new user on this forum. My name is Sharon I`m 23 yo girl from New York.
I hope to have good time here
I totally agree with this article. I have suffered depression on and off since the age of 14/15. I have been medication several times and had extreme adverse reactions, I was actually much worse on them. I have met many people who have had severe reactions to efexor, noticing them when they first go on them or after they come of them how much better they are. I am interest in doing a Recall Efexor Petition, asking for them to be remooved, chances a slim but with positive thinking we can do anything. If anyone is interested please email me on kate_nixon_53@hotmail.com It wasnt until I walked out on a job, my man and took some me time that i started to realise the nutrition, excersise and sunshine that i was missing, i met a travel buddy and went around eating amazing fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish, etc; started excercising and spending time i the sun. I broke my depression, I am now fully recovered and am organising functions and events to raise depression awareness here in wagga wagga, nsw, australia! i look forward to raising more awareness around aus and educating people about depression and the impact your situation in life as well as your lifestyle (right down to the last bit you put in your mouth) can have on alleiviating it. Some of my proven happy foods are, bananas (tryptothan i think), almonds (serotonin), milk (tryptothan), turkey (cant remember), st johns wort tea, chocolat (not to much!), yoghurt, etc. in a balanced diet combined with excercise and sunshine, i shall always be happy and smiling brightly!
I understand Brad’s concern about rage when he used 5-HPT. I also experienced those feelings however, I was off antidepressants for a year before going back on them for only 3 months. After the 3 month period I start using the 5-HTP. The rages ended for me after 3 months. The tapered off after 2 months. Prior to being off antidepressants I had been taking numerous kinds for about 20 years. I have experienced many withdrawal symptoms and many benefits of not having all the side effects the antidepressants bring. Everyone’s experience will be different as the body eliminates the stored chemicals.
I am new. I know that exercise is good for the depressed person. But what no one understands is that some of us have had a stroke and we can’t do that very much. And it really depresses a person when you can’t do what you used to do. I take Attivan and Zoloft
and vitamins and still I get depressed so easily. tahoejoy
i was wondering if you have ever heard of true hope, a vitimin/mineral supplement specifically made for people suffering from bi-polar disorder? It has helped my son and myself. We are both off all p’drugs and doing well. A change in diet (sugar processed foods etc) is also neccesary.
Psychs are supposed to refer to a physician for blood tests to determine thyroid levels among other potential physical problems before making a diagnosis of depression. I personally think that their cut-off point for thyroids is too high, but I am not a doctor, just someone who has been diagnosed being bi-polar.
Running has been a tool for treating depression for a long time because of the release of endorphins. Still, I have many friends who have suffered depression for many years who have tried supplement and retooling their diet with no success. Being bipolar, I have not found any organic assistance. It is certainly wise to use milk thistle for one’s liver and a good b-complex vitamin. Still, correct dosages so one does not od on B-12 and come up with aplastic anemia.
I believe diet plays an important part in everyone’s life, especially children’s. I worry that people who are very ill will use the nutrition road and deny the severity of their illness.
After over 10 years of severe reactions to various preecribed meds, I finallay made it my fulltime job for 3 months to research more natural treatment options for my bipolar NOS. It has taken a lot of trial and error but with none of the severe bad effects of the prescribed meds.
I wish pdocs would start by focusing on the basics to good health quality nutrition, exercise and sleep. Docotors should know how to help people be healthy not just how to sell them a drug to treat a symptom.
Hi iam newbie to this forum my name Mark
I have tried the nutrionist route, the drug route, AND the alternative route. I ended up sticking with homeopathy. It cleared up most of my issues, not just depression, I have a chronic pain disorder as well.
Its important to remember that not everyone’s body is the same and that something that works for you might not work for other people. There are numerous factors to take into account when someone is suffering from depression b/c it can have so many different causes. One time I had an episode, so I started taking a multivitamin and it cleared up. Other times I’ve had to try other things.
Its also important to remember that vitamins and supplements can help, but if taken in extreme quantities they can mess you up too. Just because vitamin C is good for you doesn’t mean you should load up on it. There is such a thing as having TOO MUCH vitamin C, A or whatever. You can have adverse reactions to supplements when used incorrectly. Thats why its important to see a professional, whether a doctor or nutritionist, before taking a bunch of supplements.
My nutritionist had me on 5HTP and Melatonin. It got to the point where I had a side effect from the melatonin. It made my heart race and I started to get hypothermia. So be careful before you fool around with supplements. I found my nutrionist to be almost as ineffective as my doctor, which is why I stick with homeopathy. No drugs, no supplements, just a remedy. But as with all things, it can have its side effects too.
You are a “clinical nutritionist” and you don’t even mention omega 3 deficiency when talking about depression? Amazing.