Eat Well With Depression

When you're depressed, it can change the way you feel about a lot of things, including eating. But the right diet can actually help your mood. So it's important to eat well. Eat your veggies. They lower your chances of feeling depressed.

Why is this? It might be because of polyphenol. This micronutrient is found in both fruits and vegetables. It helps you think. And research shows it may be good for your mental health.

Also found in fruits and veggies is vitamin C. It can help fight depression by keeping levels of the hormone cortisol in check. Your body can make too much of it when you're stressed. Some rich sources are grapefruit, kiwi, broccoli, and red and green peppers.

Speaking of green, one of the oldest beverages on the planet, green tea, curbs symptoms of depression. But you might need to drink it regularly to get the effects.

So what foods should you avoid? You guessed it, junk food-- also processed meat, fried foods, refined cereals, and high-fat dairy products. One study showed that women who ate diets high in refined sugars and starches were more likely to have depression because of the way these foods affect hormone levels, which can lead to anxiety and irritability.

So keep track of what you eat. The food you choose could help you live a happier life with depression.