Classic Sign of Depression

Depression is a serious disorder, possibly caused by stress, hormones, certain medical conditions or medications. It can strike out of the blue and—for more fortunate sufferers—can disappear just as mysteriously.

One classic sign of depression is a dramatic change in eating patterns. Some people lose all desire to eat; others develop voracious appetites, especially for carbohydrates. People with depression typically have little energy. Other signs of depression include an unshakable feeling of sadness, inability to experience pleasure, insomnia, excessive sleepiness, inability to concentrate, and indecisiveness. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt may be accompanied by recurrent thoughts of death. Anyone who has some or all of these symptoms nearly every day for more than two weeks may be suffering from major depression.

People over the age of 65 are four times more likely to suffer from depression than younger people; however, elderly sufferers do not always exhibit the classic signs. Instead, they may show signs of dementia, complain of aches and pains, or appear agitated, anxious, or irritable.

Nutrition Connection
People with depression often eat irregularly. However, eating the right foods can help stabilize mood. Here are some nutritional guidelines:
-Turn to tryptophan. Found in turkey, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and watercress, this amino acid is needed to make the mood-critical neurotransmitter serotonin. Research indicates that tryptophan can help induce sleep and may play a role in treating certain types of depression. Tryptophan supplements are banned in the US and Canada due to deaths in the 1980s.
-Eat beans. Meals that are especially rich in carbohydrates have been associated with relaxation. These foods allow tryptophan to be converted into serotonin. Beans not only supply complex carbs, they also pack in plenty of protein without a lot of fat.
-Limit sugar consumption. When sugar-sensitive people eat large quantities of sweets, they may experience an energetic “high” followed by a “low” with weakness and “jitters” when the sugar is metabolized.
-Get a lot more B vitamins. Vitamins B6 and B12 and folate may help certain forms of depression. Vitamin B6 has been shown to provide some relief to women suffering from PMS-related depression. B6 sources are meat, fish, poultry, whole grains, bananas, and potatoes. Other research has found that many depressed people are deficient in folate and B12. Folate is found in green leafy vegetables, orange juice, lentils, corn, asparagus, peas, nuts, and seeds. B12 is found in all animal foods and fortified soy and rice beverages.
-Add omega-3 fatty acids. Seek sources such as salmon, trout, mackerel, and flaxseed. Studies have shown that rates of depression are lower in countries where lots of fish is consumed and higher in countries where little fish is eaten. Fish oil supplements may help, but consult your doctor before taking them.
-Balance side effects of medication. Tricyclic antidepressants, which can cause weight gain, include imipramine (Tofranil), amitriptyline (Elavil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor). If you are overweight to begin with, or gain weight while taking any of these drugs, ask your doctor to suggest an alternative.

Beyond the Diet
Depression can be life threatening. These recommendations can help treat it as quickly as possible:
Adopt healthy sleep habits. The onset of depression is predicted by insomnia; it usually accompanies it and is usually the last symptom to disappear. Set a regular sleep schedule of 7 to 9 hours per night.

WARNING! FOOD-DRUG INTERACTION
-If you are taking an antidepressant drug in the class called monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, such as phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), your blood pressure could rise dangerously when you eat foods rich in the amino acid tyramine. Tyramines are found in protein-rich foods that have been aged, dried, fermented, pickled or bacterially treated, such as aged cheeses, pickled, or smoked fish, tofu or soy, bananas, gravies and sauces containing meat extracts, and champagne. Alcohol should be avoided. Coffee, tea, colas, chocolate, yeast, yeast extracts (such as marmite and sourdough bread), fava beans, and ginseng contain small amounts of tyramine but are generally safe enough if taken only occasionally and in small amounts.
-Consult a physician. Doctors can help address persistent thoughts or feelings associated with depression. It may be a result of an illness, such as sleep apnea, or side effects of medications, including beta-blockers digoxin, corticosteroids, antihistamines, and oral contraceptives.
-Think beyond antidepressants. Along with antidepressants, doctors usually suggest cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy.