The Real Causes Behind Depression And Other Mood Disorders

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2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

A deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids, or an imbalance between omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids, can be a major cause of depression. Omega-3 fatty acids are vital to your brain function and mental outlook. Research has even found that many cases of ADHD can be solved with nothing more than omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Scientists have also found that subjects who are depressed have low levels of this essential fatty acid in their bodies. You can find omega-3s naturally in fish and flax seed oil. You can also consume a supplement but be certain that you are consuming a quality supplement that has been cold pressed and is free from contamination. If it doesn’t state this on the label, choose another brand.

3. Iodine

The thyroid gland is a part of our endocrine system, which makes this one of the most important glands in our body. Your thyroid affects every single function in the body including your immune system, hormone production, body temperature, and brain function. Although most people believe that they are consuming sufficient amounts of iodine through table salt, this usually is not the case. You can get plenty of healthy iodine from natural foods such as potatoes, kelp, wakame, cranberries, and arame. By the way, those salty French fries, potato chips or pretzels? They don’t contain any iodized salt.

4. Vitamin D

If you listen to health experts today, they make it sound as if you will die from skin cancer if you spend more than 5 minutes in natural sunlight! The overuse of sunscreens and fear of sunlight has greatly affected our vitamin D levels. Vitamin D, which our bodies get from sunlight, is vital for everything from immune function to bone health to brain performance. One study, published in The Journal Clinical Nutrition in 2013 found that subjects diagnosed with panic attacks and depression had the lowest levels of vitamin D. This study used more than 18,000 subjects! Of course, too much of anything isn’t good for you either. Get sensible sunlight exposure. For most people, this means about 30 minutes of sunlight on your bare skin.

5. Zinc, Chromium, Iron, or Folates

Our modern day farming methods have depleted our soils of what used to be considered natural sources of the vitamins and minerals listed above. While we used to be able to consume natural foods and rest assured that we were getting complete nutrition, this is no longer the case. Be certain that you are consuming a wide variety of foods to ensure that you are getting all of these vital nutrients.

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