Your Diet May Cause Depression

For years, many scientists have maintained that a lack of omega-3 fatty acids in the typical modern diet may contribute to depression. A recent study confirmed that omega-3 fatty acids have anti-depressant-like effects. However, the latest research work in this field suggests that an excess of omega-6 – the fatty acid which is more prevalent in modern diets – may have more to do with causing depression.

The ratio of omega 3s (found in  fish and a few vegetable sources like flaxseed)  to omega-6 (found in soy, corn, sunflower, and other oils and margarines) should be around 1 to 1, based on an analysis of human diet during the long period of prehistory in which our bodies evolved. The typical ratio for most people in the U.S. and England is around 20:1 to 50:1, revealing a grotesquely distorted pattern of food consumption.

The high levels of omega-6s used in processed foods may work well for the food processing industry, but they could also be responsible for millions of people being thrown into depression.

While the benefits of omega-3s for the brain and heart seems unquestionable, a recent study at Tel Aviv University, published in Journal of Lipid Research, suggests that lowering omega-6s can be as important if not more important than simply increasing omega-3s.

Researchers projected that, in the future, depression may be controlled by shifting the balance between the two fatty acids – cutting back on omega-6 and increasing intake of omega-3 to bring levels back in line with those of our forebears.

The researchers cautioned that omega-6s are crucial to the body and should not be eliminated entirely. However, in a culture where omega-6 fatty acids are consumed 20 to 50 times more than omega-3s, completely elimination is unlikely to be a problem.

What This Means For You:

If you suffer from depression, work on increasing omega-3 fatty acids while considerably lowering intake of omega-6s.

Avoid corn, sunflower, soy, safflower, canola, or products which contain these oils... no hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats, no margarine, no shortening, no vegetable oil. Try high quality extra virgin olive oil, organic butter, coconut oil and avocados.

At the same time consider taking several grams of pure arctic fish oil (with a printed guarantee of no mercury) and/or flaxseed and flaxseed oil per day.

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