Depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide. 3 million Australians are living with depression or anxiety. Many of those suffering are our young with one in five Australian adolescents experiencing depression by the time they reach 18 years of age. The human cost of depression is very high and includes a loss of joy, energy, and sometimes the will to live.While antidepressants have become the most common treatment for depression, depression rates are climbing rapidly. Australians are one of the highest consumers of antidepressants in the world with 8-10% of the population currently using antidepressant medications.We are losing the war against depression. My question is “Should we be looking into other non-pharmaceutical ways to treat and reduce the risk of depression?”Have you ever noticed how your mood can lift after a sunny day at the beach? This may be due to the benefits of safe sun exposure to boost your body’s vitamin D levels. Low vitamin D levels are strongly related to depression. Getting outside with safe sun exposure or boosting your vitamin D levels with natural sources such as fermented cod liver oil can brighten your blues. Looking after you diet and your gut is an excellent lifestyle change to fight depression. Your gut is a bigger producer of serotonin, the body’s feel good hormone, than the brain. Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables of all colours reduces the risk of depression. These foods are high in natural antioxidants which protect the body and reduce inflammation. They also help create a healthy gut. Adding fermented foods or a good quality probiotic can also help your gut health and your hormones. Fish oils high in Omega-3 fats are important for brain function and may also help reduce depression and inflammation. Ideally source your fish oils from wild caught, smaller fish which tend to accumulate less toxins than the larger fish at the top of the food chain. Sleep disorders and depression go hand in hand. In fact, sleep disorders are one of the criteria used to diagnose depression. If you’re struggling with depression, implementing strategies to help you get eight hours of sleep a night should be a priority. Last but not least is the role of exercise. In a recent 11-year study following 34000 adults, people who engaged in an hour of exercise each week were 44% less likely to become depressed compared to non-exercisers. Stretching, yoga, and aerobic exercise programmes all have a positive effect on depression. The right intensity of exercise can boost your levels of serotonin and feel good hormones, your body’s natural antidepressants. Exercise isn’t only good for your body; it’s good for your brain and your mood. Exercise is at least as good as antidepressants for helping people who are depressed –Dr James Gordon – expert in depression treatment. If you or someone you know is fighting depression and wants to outrun their blues please contact us
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