More and more, science is finding connections between behavior and diet. Recent studies have introduced dietary questions as compared to those previously done which focused mostly on emotions. This new technique is beginning to yield important new clues about the immune system.
One of the most significant studies done in recent years suggest that diets supplemented with
omega-3
helps to decrease the risk of the onset of depression.
Omega-3
are are polyunsaturated fatty acid which can be converted into eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). They are found in plants and abundantly in fish that swim in the deepest and coldest oceans like salmon or trout. But there is nothing fishy about how
omega-3
helps in fighting depression.
A
report released from the Ohio State University details how they studied the intersection of behavior, immune function and diet. This report may be of particular interest to people in the midlife stage because it focused on a group of 43 middle-aged to elderly men and women, nearly half of which were the caregiver spouses of people with Alzheimer's or other dementias. As you can imagine, these subjects are faced with more stress and depression because of having to care for stricken spouses. In other words, the stress and depression they experience are from actual experience and not some laboratory induced condition.
To cut a long story short, the study found that higher depression and a poorer diet in terms of
omega-3
are related. To quote the lead researcher: "Other researchers have shown that clinically depressed people -- those with more severe depression -- often have lower omega-3 levels in their blood, and several studies have shown that supplementing diets with
omega-3
improves depression."
Another
report from mercola.com cites a study conducted on fish consumption in certain countries have an affect on the national rate of depression. The results show that higher national consumption of fish for a nation equals lower rates of depression versus countries consuming the least amount of fish. Furthermore, researchers are now observing an increase in the rate of depression in regions that are moving away from traditional
omega-3
-rich diets and instead embracing Western foods.
With regards to the daily intake amount for
omega-3
,
the American Heart Association recommends 1000 mg for heart patients and this should be enough to offset the risk of depression. The researchers from the Ohio State University did not particularly give a specific amount as daily intake but they did suggest that people need not take mega doses to combat their depression.
Aside from deep sea fishes,
omega-3
can also be found in flaxseed oil. In fact flaxseed oil is considered by some as a superior source of
omega-3
. But wherever you choose to get your
omega-3
from, the point is that it not only protects your heart but your emotional state as well.