[chococatz]

I'd like to share some of the foods/diet tips that helped me overcome depression. Hopefully this might help someone else. I think if you stick to this kind of diet, you will see an improvement in your mental and physical health.

#1. Reduce refined sugar. Completely eliminate or reduce intake of pasta, bread, cookies, candy, high sugar fruit juices/sodas or anything with high glycemic loads. My only sugar intake now comes from fruit, honey and stevia sweetener added to drinks. I've found that fruits, despite some being high in sugar, is still a better choice than processed sugars.

#2. Eat a lot of fruit & vegetables, both raw, fermented and cooked. Eat a wide variety of them. Making smoothies in a blender is a good way to consume them. You can cover up the taste of raw vegetables with fruit of your choice, or honey.

Some good examples are carrots, kale, spinach, broccoli, blueberries, strawberries, apples, grapes, pomegranates, cabbage, peppers, eggplant, ginger root, sweet potatoes, oranges, peaches, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapples, etc. I try to eat every kind of plant food, and it has worked for me.

#3. Choose your grains wisely.
I think everyone reacts in their own way to different types of grains. For me, I can't tolerate wheat very well. Most wheat flour has a high glycemic load. Buckwheat has become the staple of the grain part of my diet. Coincidentally, buckwheat has a low glycemic index.

#4. Consume healthy fats.
Our brain consists of fat, so consuming healthy fat is necessary. Some healthy fat sources include wild salmon, olives & unheated olive oil (add a small spoonful to water and drink), avocados, walnuts, almonds, coconuts, cashews, sunflower/pumpkin/flax seeds.

#5. Drink water or herbal tea instead of soda or sugary drinks. Chamomile, white tea, gingko, St. John's wort, ginger tea and licorice are just some examples of herbs that purportedly calm your mood.

#6. Exercise and get adequate amount of daily sunlight.
(This isn't a food tip, but it is also important in conjunction with diet. You absorb some vitamins from the sun that may be lacking in your diet, and exercise helps regulate hormones that control your mood.)

[shortandcute]

This is a lot of good info! Thanx and welcome to PC!

[-jimi-]

Pasta and bread is not refined sugar. Sugar is fructose plus glucose. Index or no index, pasta and bread will never break down into table sugar, it breaks down into glucose which cells need to live.

I have a very hard time understand this starch phobia and claim grains are sugar. If you have a grain sensitivity sure, but grain does not equal sugar.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by jimi...

Pasta and bread is not refined sugar. Sugar is fructose plus glucose. Index or no index, pasta and bread will never break down into table sugar, it breaks down into glucose which cells need to live.

I have a very hard time understand this starch phobia and claim grains are sugar. If you have a grain sensitivity sure, but grain does not equal sugar.

Thank you.

The starch phobia has gotten into the weight loss world as well.

From Jeff Galloway, a noted marathon runner and marathon trainer:

"Low-Carb Diets Don't Tell You This

- You don't burn fat - many gain fat
- The weight loss is usually water loss, with glycogen loss
- Almost everyone on this diet resumes regular eating, within a few weeks or months
- Almost all low-carb dieters gain back more weight than they lost.
- You lose the energy and motivation to exercise
- You lose exercise capacity than can help to keep the weight off when you resume eating normally
- Your metabolism rate goes down-making it harder to keep the weight off

From Running and Fatburning for Women"

[chococatz]

Originally Posted by jimi...

Pasta and bread is not refined sugar. Sugar is fructose plus glucose. Index or no index, pasta and bread will never break down into table sugar, it breaks down into glucose which cells need to live.

I have a very hard time understand this starch phobia and claim grains are sugar. If you have a grain sensitivity sure, but grain does not equal sugar.

You're right, I meant to write refined carbohydrates, not sugar, but it won't let me edit my post.

Still, too much glucose (found in refined carbs) can cause hypoglycemia.

[chococatz]

Originally Posted by jimi...

Pasta and bread is not refined sugar. Sugar is fructose plus glucose. Index or no index, pasta and bread will never break down into table sugar, it breaks down into glucose which cells need to live.

I have a very hard time understand this starch phobia and claim grains are sugar. If you have a grain sensitivity sure, but grain does not equal sugar.

Also, glucose, sucrose, fructose are all considered sugars, in case you are confused by my wording. Table sugar is sucrose, grains contain glucose, fruit and corn syrup contain fructose.

It isn't grains, starch or carbohydrates that are a problem or fear, it is specifically those which are refined, because they are stripped of nutrients and the sugars in them are more concentrated. Many people eat these type of carbs regularly, because most grain foods are refined. This can lead to blood sugar problems, and is the reason why so many people have diabetes. A little bit of refined carbohydrates won't hurt you, especially if you pair the food with some protein or complex carbohydrates. And they are good for runners who need a quick shot of energy. But if you are trying to overcome depression, I believe it's best to try and reduce your intake of refined carbohydrate and eat more complex carbohydrates. This will stabilize your blood sugar, and consequently stabilize your hormones.

[-jimi-]

I'm not convinced. People around the world all seem to have a high carb food they eat regularly. Asians eat a lot of white rice and have done so for hundreds of years and had no issue with it. Maybe some people indeed have a sensitivity, but it's so hard understanding since I used to be sensitive (most people are not) but it was sugar causing the problem, not carbs. Not many sugar addicts go for bread, gruel or oatmeal either. So I instinctively know there is a huge difference.

[Inedible]

Walnuts are good brain food.

[-jimi-]

They look like brains too.

[Asiablue]

I've recently taken up green smoothies and eating raw food more often and honestly, the difference is startling, more energy, clearer skin, whites in my eyes whiter and my hair has finally after year started growing again! My psoriasis also cleared up quite a bit.

Food definitely heals.