Depression & Diet

When life gives us news that’s dark and disturbing, especially most recently, news of celebrity suicides, I turn to Michael Greger, MD, founder of https://nutritionfacts.org to learn if the medical literature has wisdom on the connection between diet and depression. Sure enough Dr. Greger reports that studies have shown that the more fruits and vegetables you eat, the happier, calmer, and more energetic you may feel. Then he goes on to warn readers about the foods that contribute to depression.

“Avoiding the blues is not just about eating your greens, though. There are also components in certain foods that may increase the risk of depression, such as arachidonic acid, that is blamed for potentially impairing mood by inflaming the brain. The top-five sources of this inflammation-promoting compound in the American diet are chicken, eggs, beef, pork, and fish, although chicken and eggs alone contribute more than the other top sources combined. There are data suggesting that people with higher levels of arachidonic acid in their blood may end up at significantly higher risk of suicide and episodes of major depression.” https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/depression/

*Mood Lifting Watermelon Pico de Gallo

½ whole small, seedless watermelon chopped (or any size watermelon)

3 whole peppers chopped- 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green

½ red onion chopped

2 whole jalapenos chopped

1 bunch cilantro chopped

Juice of 2 whole limes

For extra kick, add ¼ cup spicy salsa

Served with oven-baked oil free corn tortillas cut in triangles 300 degrees for 1/2 hour