Depressed? Go Bananas

It's called "eating for your mood" and doctors are finding that there are, indeed, certain foods that can improve your outlook on life.

Experts told CBS 2 that researchers "have identified specific foods that may be helpful in promoting feelings of well being and calm," the story reports.

A study published in Nutrition Journal found a direct association between higher levels of nutrient intake and better mental health in 97 people, CBS 2 notes.

According to CBS New York, tuna and mackerel (yuck) are two of the foods high in vitamins and essential fatty acids that can help you feel less depressed and anxious. 

Webmd.com weighs in with, "Dietary changes can bring about changes in our brain structure (chemically and physiologically), which can lead to altered behavior."

If you're not a fish person, don't get upset.  Bananas, olive oil, lean beef, and dates also may do the trick, along with brown rice, spinach and sunflower seeds. One woman interviewed by the TV station said she saw a change within a month, even after stopping her medication for depression.

If you don't see any Big Macs in there, it's for a reason.  Fatty foods have long been known to trigger a feeling like addiction, which, when you come down, can lead to depression, according to a study reported in The Times of India. 

But there are things you can do if you're not partial to any of the "healthy" foods above.  Eliminate "white" carbs from your diet.  Instead, eat "smart" ones like sweet potatoes instead of mashed, and whole wheat toast instead of white bread; get enough Vitamin D (that means milk, cheese and dairy foods, but don't overdo it), and, probably most important of all, eat breakfast, webmd.com advises.

Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast lose more weight -- and, here's the hard part -- keep it off -- than people who don't. 




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