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Depression approximately affects more than 3 million people
in the United States alone. The causes for depression can vary from chemical
imbalances in the brain to stressful life events. The persistent feeling of
sadness or loss of interest which characterizes the condition can often lead to
other emotional and physical conditions. A majority of people resolve to taking
antidepressants in an attempt to relieve their symptoms of depression but using
medication doesn’t have to be your first option for treatment. You can reduce
your depression, and improve your mood and overall mental health by using the
following natural antidepressants.
Exercise is believed to be the number one, but often underused,
natural antidepressant effective towards treating mild to moderate depression. A
study conducted by the Harvard University found that exercise was just as
effective and had longer lasting effects than the leading antidepressant
medications. When you exercise, the body releases chemicals known as endorphins
which collaborate with receptors in the brain to reduce the perception of pain.
Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body, helping to reduce stress,
boost self-esteem, and avert anxiety and feelings of depression. Moderate
exercises such as walking, biking, low-impact aerobics, and yoga, are good
forms of exercise that can help depression.
Sunlight exposure is also a great natural antidepressant. While
long periods of exposure to the sun’s rays can be harmful to the skin, a right
balance of sunlight can have plenty of mood lifting benefits. An exposure to
sunlight triggers the brain’s release of a hormone known as serotonin. If there
is not enough exposure to sunlight, an individual’s levels of serotonin in
their body can drop significantly. The low levels of serotonin can often be
associated with an increased risk for people to develop depression. A good
balance of sunlight for each individual depends on how direct the sun’s rays
are. A person is more likely to get a sunburn between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Getting anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes of indirect sunlight, 2 to 3 times a week
can be enough to feel the positive benefits of the sun on your mood.
Sugar can also largely aggravate depression. As an
individual who is prone to depression, avoiding sugar in your diet can help
ease your symptoms of depression. The consumption of sugar causes tremendous highs
and lows in the body’s glucose metabolism. Also, the body uses vitamin B to
process sugar. Vitamin B helps convert food into energy as well as regulate the
nervous system. If you use up your vitamin B processing sugars, there won’t be
much left to help regulate your mood.
Living with depression can be difficult for anyone. While
it’s important to seek professional help for diagnosis and treatment help, if
you’re an individual who’s experienced the symptoms associated with the
condition, following these natural antidepressant remedies may more than likely
help you feel much better.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
