Depression has many causes, but a poor diet is not considered to be among them. It is true that there is a link between one’s diet and one’s moods, but it lacks the strength to actually cause mood disorders to take root. It is also known that dietary concerns can have effects on a person’s mood if there is already a disorder. In many cases, depression can also cause a person to change their eating habits and food intake. While antidepressants like Prozac can help alleviate depression, there are some that advocate making some adjustments to food intake while under medication.

When a person is depressed, their energy levels and drive drop to levels much lower than normal, so enthusiasm for activities like meals become lost. This can result in a lack of proper nutrition and food intake, which in turn can only make the depression worse. While not a substitute for therapy and medication like Prozac, proper food intake and exercise can help treatment in pushing back the symptoms of depression. Certain foods and nutrients in particular are believed to help in relieving the damage done by depression.

Carbohydrates have been linked to the production of serotonin, a mood-regulating chemical in the brain, the imbalance of which is implied to cause depression. A diet with more carbohydrates can effectively increase the production of serotonin in the brain. While there is no evidence to suggest that ‘carbs’ can cure depression, increasing the intake of them might help anyway. These are commonly found in milk, grains, beans, and cereals, which are also notable for their B vitamin content. Deficiencies in B vitamins have been common among those who have depression.

The depressed are also advised to stay away from alcohol and caffeine. While caffeine may raise the energy levels of the body, they can also cause a person to be unable to sleep. The lack of sleep that results from this is only going to make a person’s depression worse. Alcohol is the same. Despite the effect it has that makes a person feel ‘happy’ for a while, alcohol doesn’t help the depressed much. For one thing, it can sometimes interact poorly with antidepressants like Prozac. Another problem is that alcohol is a depressant, which means that it can make the problem worse.