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Can Depression Be Related to Nutrition

Homepage Articles Can Depression Be Related to Nutrition

Can Depression Be Related to Nutrition

Depression is the most common mental disorder. Currently, there are 350 million people with depression. Depression affects every age group, but it's most common among older people, more common in women than men. It makes people who suffer from depression unable to function properly. It's the third most common cause of disability.

Table of Contents

1. What is depression definition, symptoms and distribution

Depression is a disease that affects both the mental and the physical spheres. The risk factors for depression include genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, abnormal levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body and, conversely, somatic diseases can cause depression. Prevention is very important to prevent and detect depressive disorders at an early stage, as well as treatment.

2. The theory of inflammatory depression

The immune system is very important for the proper functioning of the body. Its activation is a beneficial response to stress stimuli: diseases, infections, injuries and psychosocial problems. However, if the body's response to stimuli is uncontrolled and too strong, it can cause chronic inflammation in the body. This increases the level of proinflammatory cytokines and the risk of chronic diseases, including depression.

3. Malnutrition and depression

Deficiencies in vitamins B9 and B12 cause impaired nervous system function, synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, and increases homocysteine levels in the bloodstream. Hyperhomocysteines in people with vitamin B9 also accelerate the formation of essential unsaturated fatty acids (NFAs) in the diet.

4. Diet and Depression

It is also important to consider the introduction of individual iodine-rich supplementation to restore normal gut microbiota, reduce inflammation in the body and improve neuroprotective synthesis. If a properly composed diet can be a factor in both prevention and treatment of depression, it is also very important to change lifestyle, dietary habits and physical activity habits. There is also an important role in reducing the symptoms of depression in the human body, including in the treatment of fatty acids from the omega-3 fatty acid family, as well as in the maintenance of the full-fledged metabolism of the amino acid family.

5. Physical activity in the treatment of depression

Individually selected physical activity is an effective tool for both prevention and treatment of depression. Each type of activity is beneficial, but resistance training and aerobic exercise have been shown to be most effective in relieving symptoms. Due to their neuroplastic effect, they have a positive effect on people with depression and older people who have experienced cognitive impairment. Improving the health of people with depressive disorders requires a holistic approach including psychotherapy, pharmacology, changing dietary habits and incorporating physical activity.

Source

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