Some Toa of Chow and Depression

Live Holistically is a multi-author site.
This post was written by: Susan Blue

What a person eats or doesn’t eat is part of my intake form. Many are surprised to see that on their Medical History. Why?

Running on Empty

About 45% of the people I see, don’t give themselves adequate fuel or fluids (water) to keep their bodies running at the pace they want to go. They take better care of their car. They would never let their car run half or a quart low on oil. Nor would they run out of gas. All other fluids: brake, wind shield wiper, power steering, anti-freeze, and gear boxes are kept up. If they don’t do it themselves, they pay to have it done for them.

Running Low Octane in Your Tank

Your car engine would ping and not have the proper pick up at acceleration if you used a lower octane gasoline than recommended.

Coffee or tea to wake up and then a little something (toast for most) is universal. Dependency on caffeine to get by the morning blahs create more morning blahs. Stimulating your body into action without giving fuel to sustain it has long reaching results.

So What Does Food Have to do With Depression?

Simple, improve your food intake and you will feel better.
Hard as it is to do in our car and go go culture, eating 6 small meals a day is ideal. Many people who have changed their diets, eating smaller amounts more frequently; report feeling better, having more energy, better focus and stamina.

Leafy green veggies have micro-nutrients that clean and feed your stomach, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, small and large intestines, brain and nerves. Food feeds the organs which determine how well your body runs and effects mental focus. Eating foods that have prana (life force) will maintain and rejuvenate. Start your day with protein. Have your bigger meal at lunch rather than dinner.

Drink enough water so your body can flush toxins out.

Educate Yourself

Read food articles that are in the papers, magazines and Internet. These are good places to start. Many of these articles will give you resources for further information. Use your library. Use the Internet.
Read the current research about vitamins and other nutritional supplementation that can improve over all health and help maintain high level performance.

One of my sons has Bipolar Disorder. He went online to find out what he could do besides medication. He found specific vitamins and supplements that made a difference. He rarely misses a day with out them. A few years later he read an article about the 40 - 30 - 30 Zone Diet. He changed his eating habits and his life is better than it has been in many years. He looks healthier and has less effects from his disorder.

See an Alternative Health Professional

Many people have food allergies or food sensitivities. Clients and friends who quit eating foods they were sensitive to had their depression symptoms change. Those who had allergies had more significant changes with their symptoms. A nutritionist can easily use muscle testing to see what foods are best digested and support your function. They can also help you make changes over time, starting with the most important ones. They are a rich resource for what to buy, where, how to cook it and how to make changes to accommodate healthier living.

Some other choices that can help you with supplement and diet to change causes of your symptoms are Naturopathic Doctors, Homeopathic Technicians or Doctors who practice Homeopathy.

Keep a Food Diary

For many of us, the actuality of what we eat is different than what we do. That includes me.

So why have a diary? Keeping it real! Was it half a bag of potato chips rather than a couple of hand fulls. Thinking about dinner? But got a Boca Italian Sausage out of the freezer, microwaved it, ate it, then put another in just so not to eat bread. Phone rang and you are out of the kitchen.

So what was dinner, 1/2 bag of potato chips and 2 Boca Italian Sausages? Don’t forget the cup of tea that came an hour later. Or that you didn’t drink any water since you got home from work.

If we want change, we half to know what we are doing. Food can be ones of those areas of low awareness. The more awareness you have, the more your perception will broaden and the ability to change increases and becomes easier.