The One Food You Need to Stop Eating If You Suffer with Depression

You’ve probably heard it said before that depression and other mental illnesses are a “chemical brain imbalance”.

In fact, I’ve said this before.

But I was wrong! Or at least, kind of wrong. The truth is, we don’t know.

Recent studies showed that low serotonin is not the cause of depression. This doesn’t mean that medications that raise serotonin can’t help. They often do. But as the study pointed out, “Tylenol might help a headache but the cause of the headache isn’t a Tylenol deficiency”.

We all know that medications do not work for everyone. So what’s the answer? Well, that’s the million dollar question.

I would say that trauma needs to be dealt with. Daily exercise is vital. Journaling can be therapeutic. Counseling offers great benefits. Correcting negative mental filters is essential. Goal setting and risk taking are often neglected. And I would say that sometimes prescription medications are necessary.

But…

I have found that the mind is so wild and interesting that we often forget it’s connected to the body.

What you do to your body affects your mind and vice versa.

Did you know that food can contribute to depression?

A 2019 article in Clinical Nutrition suggested a direct association between an inflammatory diet and mental health disorders.

A 2022 meta-analysis showed in women following a high inflammatory diet, there was an increased 47% risk of depression and 80% increased risk of anxiety compared to followers of low-inflammatory diet.

I was not expecting that! Those numbers are staggering.

Now, association is not causation. So, let’s not fall into the old serotonin trap. But more research on diet and depression needs to be done.

Don’t worry, we’re going to talk more about low inflammatory diets in a future post. But today I just want to tell you the number one food you should watch out for…

BREAD!

Well, more specifically…Refined carbohydrates are at the top of the Inflammatory Index score.

Basically, if you suffer from depression or anxiety, I think it would be highly worthwhile to try a gluten-free diet. And go ahead and get rid of your processed carbs like chips, crackers, and biscuits. And see if you feel better in a few months.

Obviously there are more foods on the inflammation list and we will get to those later. And it’s not just about avoiding things, it’s more about adding the right things. But for right now…baby steps.

Here’s the thing. I am not anti-carb. I just personally take in most of my gluten via liquid form 😉

My point is, there might be something in your diet that you’re sensitive to.

Now, please talk to your doctor first. I’m not trying to give blanket medical advice because everyone’s condition is different.

I am also not saying, stop your meds. Just—stop the bread.

Get a solid plan from your doc and go from there.

And please, I can’t stress this enough…

If you suffer from depression, talk to someone.

It’s never too late to get help.

P.S.

Okay, I admit, the title of this post was click bait. But stay tuned for future articles about the miraculous magic of blueberries! (In moderation of course, keep those carbs low!)