| If you suffer with depression, one of the | | | | fix many cases of depression. |
| best things you can do is to find ways to | | | | |
| serve others. Selfishness is definitely a | | | | * Stop smoking. Yes, many Christians smoke |
| major cause of depression. But there are | | | | regularly. And it can depress your immune |
| cases of depression that are caused by | | | | system and your energy levels. |
| physical problems. A poor diet, for instance, | | | | |
| can make you feel sluggish. And a mineral | | | | Second, try these supplements: |
| deficiency can rob you of your youthful | | | | |
| vitality. | | | | * Take a good quality multivitamin. Most of |
| | | | the ones at your local grocery store don't |
| Unfortunately, medical science likes to throw | | | | qualify as "quality." Find one that you have |
| drugs at the problem, instead of finding the | | | | to take at least twice a day and is rich in |
| root cause. Most drugs are designed to treat | | | | nutrients. |
| symptoms. And they can have fatal side | | | | |
| effects in many people. Plus, they're not | | | | * Take additional vitamin B6 (100-200 mg) and |
| always effective (NEJM 3-23-2006). | | | | magnesium (100-300 mg). Both of these help |
| | | | increase your body's serotonin levels -- a |
| Instead, here a few things you should try | | | | "feel good" chemical made in your brain. |
| (I'm assuming here that you've dealt with the | | | | |
| spiritual aspect of the problem, which is | | | | * Studies have found that the nutrients St. |
| where you should always start). | | | | John's wort (300-900 mg daily) and selenium |
| | | | (200 mcg daily) can fight depression as well |
| First, take care of the obvious: | | | | as Prozac, without the side effects. |
| | | | (Findings reported at the 83rd annual meeting |
| * Make sure you're eating a good clean diet | | | | of the Endocrine Society.) |
| with lots of vegetables and protein. A lot of | | | | |
| people, especially those over 50, don't get | | | | Finally, learn how to deal with conflict. |
| enough protein (which can lead to | | | | Poor relationships can cause all kinds of |
| sluggishness). | | | | health problems, including depression, |
| | | | cancer, and heart disease. |
| * Stop eating sugar. Some people say it | | | | |
| doesn't have any effect on your body, but I | | | | (Source: Second Opinion Newsletter; 64th |
| notice a big difference in how I feel when I | | | | Annual Scientific Conference of the American |
| eat too much sugar. | | | | Psychosomatic Society in Denver, March 4, |
| | | | 2006. |
| * Get plenty of exercise. This one alone can | | | | |