Notice your eating habits!
Changes in your eating patterns might be linked to other depression symptoms including exhaustion and a lack of enjoyment from activities. “Many persons suffering from depression experience a loss of both energy and interest. This might involve a lack of desire to eat and is particularly true for older persons suffering from depression, who may lose interest in cooking and lack the energy to cook. Others may experience nausea as a consequence of their sadness, leading to a loss of appetite.
While a loss of appetite is a typical sign of depression, some people may overeat due to feelings of melancholy or worthlessness. Debra J. Johnston, RD, culinary services manager at Remuda Ranch, an eating disorder treatment clinic in Wickenburg, Ariz., states, “Depression can also result in emotional eating, a typical event in which the urge to eat is not related with physical hunger.” Emotional eating, on the other hand, is eating in reaction to emotional hunger. When patients eat in reaction to their emotions, the food calms them down by altering the chemical balance in the brain, producing a more comfortable sense of fullness than an empty stomach, and improving mood through good associations with happier days.
When Should You Consult a Physician?
Although the symptoms of sadness vary from person to person, a sudden change in appetite is a prominent marker of depression that should not be overlooked. Here are some warning indicators to mention to your doctor:
· A change in appetite that is accompanied by additional symptoms such as melancholy, guilt, lack of interest in previously liked activities, sleep disturbances, or digestive issues such as constipation or nausea.
· Eating to distract yourself from your issues or feelings, or eating even though you are not hungry
· Any major change in your health or food patterns, especially if you have a history of mental health issues.
· Any thoughts of death or suicide; if this occurs, contact your doctor right away.
Sustaining a Healthy Diet in the Face of Depression
Trying to keep to your normal eating habits and eating a balanced diet will help you manage your sadness. There is no depression diet that can cure or prevent clinical depression but there is evidence that some diets are better for depression than others. Below dietary suggestions may be useful:
1. There is some evidence that a Mediterranean-style diet low in saturated fats and high in fruits, nuts, legumes, and olive oil reduces the risk of depression.
2. Omega-3 fatty acids which are linked to brain function. Diets rich in them may improve a person’s reaction to antidepressant medicines, according to certain research.
3. Vitamins and minerals are essential for good health. Vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and tryptophan deprivation, according to research, can have a detrimental impact on mood. As a result, inadequate nutrition can aggravate depression.
4. Nutritional assistance. You might wish to discuss your dietary habits with a dietician. A dietician can assist someone suffering from depression by developing a nutritionally balanced meal plan tailored to the patient’s specific requirements. A depressed patient, for example, may lack the energy or motivation to cook a meal. The dietician will take this into account and construct meals that include simple-to-prepare items. People who suffer from severe depression and lose their appetite may require nutritional supplements to avoid weight loss and vitamin deficiencies.
Conclusion
Notify your doctor if you notice a change in your apetite, gained or lost a lot of weight, or if you’re experiencing any other depressive symptoms. If you’ve been diagnosed with depression, a shift in your eating patterns might indicate that your condition is improving.
Eat well, stay happy.
