Natural Remedies For Depression: Find Hope Again
May 11, 2018
Did you know that 1 out of 7 individuals will suffer from depression symptoms at some point in his or her life? Today, depression is one of the main causes of disability in developed, as well as low and medium income countries. In fact, around 150 million people suffer from depression worldwide.
The World Health Organization predicts that depression will become the second most prevalent disease worldwide by the year 2020. But what are we doing to prevent and treat this life-altering mood disorder? The typical treatment antidepressant medications dont work for every person with depression and also come with a slew of side effects. However, sometimes people dont know where to turn to find a treatment that wont bring on more health problems.
The good news is there are natural remedies for depression that are effective and help address the root cause of the disease. If youre looking for a natural way to improve your depressive symptoms, studies suggest that you should focus on eating an anti-inflammatory diet one similar to the Mediterranean diet that provides critical vitamins and minerals for hormone balance and brain function. A moderate to high level of physical activity/exercise has also been shown to prevent against depression. Additionally, using essential oils for depression and making other lifestyle changes to control stress are some of your best options.
Depression Stress And Anxiety
Adjusting to a chronic, debilitating illness sometimes leads to other problems, including depression, stress, and anxiety. Many patients with ME/CFS develop depression during their illness. When present, depression or anxiety should be treated. Although treating depression or anxiety can be helpful, it is not a cure for ME/CFS.
Some people with ME/CFS might benefit from antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. However, doctors should use caution in prescribing these medications. Some drugs used to treat depression have other effects that might worsen other ME/CFS symptoms and cause side effects. When healthcare providers are concerned about patients psychological condition, they may recommend seeing a mental health professional.
Some people with ME/CFS might benefit from trying techniques like deep breathing and muscle relaxation, massage, and movement therapies . These can reduce stress and anxiety, and promote a sense of well-being.
Mistake #3 A Vitamin Is A Vitamin Is A Vitamin Or The Right Vitamin Wrong Form Problem
Vitamins come in many forms, some of which may not be particularly effective for you.
B-12
Take the wrong form of B-12 and you could be dumping small amounts of cyanide into your system
B-12, for instance, is usually either given sublingually or via injection in ME/CFS. It comes in four radically different forms: methylcobalamin, cyanocobalamin, hydroxycobalamin, and adenyosylcobalamin.
- Methylcobalamin plays a role in the methylation cycle.
- Cyanocobalamin is the most commonly found version of B-12 because it is the least expensive to produce, but it breaks down in the body to cobalamin and cyanide.
- Hydroxycobalamin is believed to be useful for brain health.
- Adenosylcobalamin is the least commonly found form of B-12,.adenosylcobalamin may be able to scavenge hydrogen disulfide, a byproduct of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine something commonly found in ME/CFS.
Co-enzyme Q10
CoQ10 is a potent antioxidant that plays an important role in producing ATP. . It comes in two forms: ubiquinone or ubiquinol.
- Ubiquinone is the oxidized form of CoQ10. The body has to transform ubiquinone back into its unoxidized form to use it.
- Ubiquinol is CoQ10 In its biologically active ready-to-use form.
Folate
Thats only the beginning of the problem, though. It turns out that unmetabolized folic acid has been implicated in the development of some cancers.
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Natural Supplements That Help With Depression
Like anxiety, depression too is a thought disorder. It is preceded by a habit formation of negative thoughts about ones self, others, or the world.
Treatment of depression necessitates psychotherapy but can be supported with other therapeutic techniques. Prescription drugs are a potential treatment but they cannot cure depression. Similarly, natural supplements are an alternative to antidepressants.
They too can help one prevent and treat depressive disorders but cannot cute them alone. Below, we will discuss some evidence-backed natural supplements that help with depression:
A Note On Supplements
Before trying any new supplements for depression, its important to ask a trusted healthcare professional about potential medication interactions or safety concerns.
While supplements may be helpful in managing depression, they are not a cure for the condition. Therefore, when selecting supplements, be wary of products that claim to treat or cure depression.
There are a ton of dietary supplements on the market, but not all of them are safe and effective.
For this article, we chose supplements based on the following criteria:
- Evidence-based: The supplements on this list have research supporting their use in depression.
- Testing: We chose brands whose products are tested regularly throughout the manufacturing process, ideally by a third-party organization.
- Ingredients: We selected products from brands that prioritize the use of high quality ingredients and easily absorbed forms of vitamins and minerals. The brands below also avoid or limit the use of artificial flavors, fillers, and preservatives.
- Price: While the supplements included vary in price, they provide a good value.
- Vetting: All brands and products listed below have been vetted and approved by our team of experts, who evaluate companies based on medical credibility and business practices.
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Vitals Brand Herbal Remedy For Depression
Image courtesy Vitals
Our High Potency 5-HTP Depression Relief Supplement is the best on the market. It’s formulated and manufactured in a unique way to capture the full spectrum of 5-HTP depression relieving benefits. This advanced mood, sleep, and brain boosting supplement contains 200mg of pure 5-HTP with extra 328mg of Calcium per serving to enhance deeper and longer sleep, and promote greater tranquility and calmness. Recommended By 200+ Experts In The USA.
Megafood Vitamin D3 5000 Iu
Price: $$
Many people are deficient in or have suboptimal levels of vitamin D, a fat-soluble nutrient thats essential for brain function and mood regulation .
Studies show that vitamin D inadequacy or deficiency is particularly common in people with mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders .
Furthermore, research suggests that taking high doses of vitamin D may be effective in reducing the severity of anxiety symptoms in people with anxiety disorders, including those with GAD .
A 2020 study in 106 people with depression found that treatment with 1,600 IU of vitamin D per day for 6 months led to significant improvements in anxiety symptoms, compared with a control group .
MegaFood Vitamin D3 is one of the best vitamin D supplements for anxiety, as it combines vitamin D with vitamin K.
These nutrients work synergistically in the body to help maintain healthy levels of vitamin K and to promote heart and bone health .
This supplement delivers 5,000 IU of vitamin D and 100% of the Daily Value for vitamin K in just 1 capsule. As a result, its a good choice for people with low vitamin D levels.
Keep in mind that while higher dose vitamin D supplements may be necessary to treat deficiency, for people who simply want to maintain healthy vitamin D levels, a supplement that provides 1,0002,000 IU per day may be more appropriate.
Your healthcare professional can test your vitamin D levels and recommend a dose of vitamin D for your specific needs.
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Which Natural Supplements Help With Depression
People who struggle with depression may look far and wide to find something that will help them on an ongoing basis. They want something that’s safe, effective, and affordable. Natural Supplements for depression include vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies, and other supplements. The only problem is that so many options are available, it may be difficult to settle on one supplement. Still, with the right information, you can choose wisely.
Supplements For Depression: Take The Next Step
Depression is a widespread problem, but antidepressant medications dont work for many people and are not safe for large segments of the population.
But there are natural supplements that are both safe and effective for depression.
Several are proven to be as effective as prescription antidepressants.
Some supplements have antidepressant properties of their own, while others work by addressing underlying causes of depression, such as nutritional deficiency, brain inflammation, or neurotransmitter imbalance.
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Mind Lab Pro is the brain supplement we recommend because, by boosting your brain health, it can help you:
- Improve your mental clarity and focus.
- Boost your memory and your ability to learn.
- Increase your capacity to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions.
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Otc Supplements & Depression
Thinking of Trying an OTC Supplement to Soothe Depression Symptoms? Read This First
Albert Hernandez
Medically Reviewed by Tanya Hernandez, PMHNP-BC
7 min read
Do you feel like even though youre doing your best, you cant manage your depression symptoms on your own anymore? This can be a very lonely and painful place to find yourself in. Youre craving relief from feeling sad, hopeless, and lethargic all the time. But you just dont have the motivation to figure out what to do about it. Whatever the solution is, you want it to be easy because thats all you have the energy for right now.
Youve seen ads claiming natural remedies like herbs, vitamins, and minerals can help you feel better.
So you lie on the couch, Googling what OTC supplements work for depression. Like many others, you start feeling overwhelmed as you scour dozens of brands of natural remedies for depression, trying to find the best one. The descriptions are vague, and reading the reviews doesnt help at all it just makes you even more confused about what to buy.
“While it may be tempting to manage your symptoms on your own, taking OTC supplements for depression is a hit or miss strategy.”
Sure, anyone can purchase herbs, vitamins, and minerals online or at the store. But that doesnt mean they are safe.
Several OTC products market themselves as being useful in alleviating depression symptoms. Lets take a look at the most common ones, their risks, and benefits.
- Chinese herbal compounds
Albert Hernandez
Do I Need Health Insurance To Receive This Service
The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.
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Best Vitamins For Depression
B vitamins play an important role in helping the brain produce adequate levels of the chemicals required to manage mood and other functions, according to the Mayo Clinic. If someone has low levels of B-vitamins and in particular B-12, they may be more likely to experience symptoms of depression. B-vitamin deficiencies are often seen in people who have depression.
Even without a specific disorder, it can become increasingly difficult for a persons body to absorb enough vitamin B-12 as they age. Depression can often include symptoms of fatigue, and B-vitamins can help combat that. B-12, in particular, is known for being important to reduce fatigue.
Some of the foods that contain high levels of B-12 include fish, lean meats, eggs, poultry and milk. Certain breakfast cereals may be fortified with B-12 as well. B-12 supplementation can help if someone is a vegan or vegetarian or may not be getting enough of the vitamin for any reason.
Other B vitamins for depression, or vitamins that play a role in brain health include:
Calcium Magnesium Zinc And Selenium
Most everyone needs more of these vital minerals than they can obtain from food. Few good sources of these minerals exist in foods today. Calcium is found in raw dairy products, carrot juice, sardines, bone broth, and a little is found elsewhere. However, most people do not obtain nearly enough from food alone.
Magnesium is only found in whole grains, and a little in other foods. Very few people get enough from their food. Zinc is found mainly in meats, but one must eat a substantial amount to obtain enough. The correct form of selenium is found in blue corn, organic yellow corn, sardines, kelp and a few other foods, but most people need a supplement.
I suggest that every adult take a supplement of about 750 mg of chelated calcium daily, about 450 mg of chelated magnesium daily, about 30 mg of chelated zinc daily and about 200 mcg of selenomethionine or yeast-based selenium daily. This is not costly and they are readily available.
Children over the age of about 5 may need a supplement as well, based mainly upon their weight.
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How We Select Supplements
Our team works hard to be transparent about why we recommend certain supplements you can read more about our dietary supplement methodology here.
We support supplements that are evidence-based and rooted in science. We value certain product attributes that we find to be associated with the highest-quality products. We prioritize products that are third-party tested and certified by one of three independent, third-party certifiers: USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab.
It’s important to note that the FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they go to market. Our team of experts has created a detailed, science-backed methodology to choose the supplements we recommend.
Unraveling Disparities In Breast Cancer
Why are black women more likely than white women to develop certain aggressive subtypes of breast cancer or to die from the disease? The National Cancer Institute has launched a collaborative research project to try to pinpoint genetic factors that underlie these and other disparities.
The Breast Cancer Genetic Study in African-Ancestry Populations is the largest study ever to investigate genetic and biological factors behind black womens risk of breast cancer. It wont enroll new patients, but will bring together researchers and data from a variety of venues, including the African-American Breast Cancer Consortium and the African-American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Consortium. Minority scientists from various institutions are playing an important role in the study, the NCI says.
The researchers will share biospecimens, data, and resources on 20,000 women involved in 18 previous studies. The genomes of those women will be compared with those of 20,000 black women who do not have breast cancer, as well as with white women who do. The project will investigate genetic variations associated with breast cancer risk in black women and gene expression in tumor samples to identify genetic pathways.
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Bonus: Other Natural Supplements That Can Reduce Depression
Here are numerous other natural supplements that have also been shown to reduce depression and improve mood in humans.
I didnt include them in the main list because they arent my favourite go-to solutions for depression.
Plus, they can be hit-and-miss and dont always work for everyone in every situation.
But research still shows they can be quite effective, so theyre worth considering and giving a shot.
Best Energy Supplements For Chronic Fatigue 2021
Chronic fatigue is a pervasive and pernicious issue right now. Most people today seem to be seriously overworked. This is true regardless of where you are: the US, UK, Europe, Canada everybody seems to be exhausted all the time.
As working hours increase and the line between leisure and work gets increasingly blurred, the issue of chronic fatigue is only going to get worse. More of us will spend a larger chunk of our day answering calls and emails and less time sleeping, relaxing, or exercising. The end result will be a population that is constantly fighting fatigue.
So whats the answer?
The obvious answer is to spend less time working and more time resting! But we know that few of you currently have that option your careers are demanding so theres no chance you can take more time off.
Another solution might be to use drugs like Adderall or Ritalin. While powerful, these drugs do not actually address chronic fatigue instead, they provide a short-term energy boost followed by a nasty comedown and a plethora of side effects .
In our opinion, the only practical, safe and appealing solution is high-quality energy supplements designed specifically to fight chronic fatigue.
Below is our choice for the best energy supplement for chronic fatigue. Weve also explained how we chose our top ranked energy supplements, and how you should use them for best results. If you have any questions, please post them in the comments section at the end!
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Best All Natural Supplements For Anxiety And Depression
As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided
In this extensive list, we will be describing the best all natural supplements for anxiety and depression. First we will go over nine such supplements that are used to improve symptoms of anxiety. Then we will discuss nine more options of natural supplements for depression.
The Downside Of Prescription Antidepressants
Common medications prescribed for people with depression are known as antidepressants. The Food and Drug Administration states that most prescription antidepressants fall into one of the following classifications: SSRIs , SNRIs , and MAOIs .
Prescribed antidepressants affect varying neurotransmitters in the brain in a few different ways, and many people who suffer from mild to moderate depression find antidepressants to be beneficial. However, many people do not want to be prescribed antidepressants.
There is a long list of possible side effects that come along with antidepressants however, that can sometimes encourage people to choose a different route of treatment.
Here are some of those:
- Feeling nauseous, dizzy, tired all the time
- Having dry mouth
- A change in sexual function or sexual desire
- Sleep disturbances
There are also more severe risks, such as developing high blood pressure, suicidal thinking, or the possibility of congenital disabilities in women who are pregnant. Another reason people may not want to be on a prescribed antidepressant is that there are, indeed, less drastic options. Or, their depression may not be severe enough to warrant the use of prescription antidepressants. For these candidates, there are other approaches. One alternative might be to try natural supplements for depression. There are many supplements available for use as a means to help depression.
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