Did you know?

Depression affects over 17 million adults in the United States alone. However, we’re expecting a much higher number, as many people with Depression don’t seek treatment for various reasons. ~NCBI

Depression

It’s normal to feel sad once in a while, but if you feel sad all the time, you might be suffering from clinical depression. Depressive disorders are classified into five categories, including

• major depressive disorder (MDD)
• persistent depressive disorder
• depressive disorder due to another medical condition
• disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
• premenstrual dysphoric disorder

These categories share common symptoms, such as sadness, irritable mood, a feeling of emptiness, and cognitive changes that affect functioning.

Tips for treating Depressive Disorder

People with depression or depressive disorders require proper medications and psychotherapy for treatment. This is not enough; they also need to make some lifestyle changes, such as making dietary changes and taking certain supplements to treat depression. If you’re planning to make dietary changes, we recommend you add these herbs and supplements to your diet to help treat depression:

1. Vitamin D

Vitamin D may fight depression as it helps reducing inflammation, regulating mood, and protecting against neurocognitive dysfunction.

Unfortunately, people with depression have low levels of vitamin D in their bodies. According to a 2020 study, “People with depression who were deficient in vitamin D found that receiving a single injection of 300,000 IU of vitamin D along with their usual treatment significantly improved depressive symptoms, quality of life, and illness severity.”

2. Zinc

People with zinc deficiency have a high risk of depression and depression symptoms. ~NCBI

Zinc is necessary for the brain’s health and the regulation of neurotransmitter pathways. The deficiency of this nutrient in the body may increase the risk of depression.

One more similar study was done, in which participants took zinc supplements along with their antidepressant medications, and they experienced lowered depressive symptoms.

So if you’re experiencing depressive disorder symptoms, make sure to add zinc supplements to your diet.

3. Rhodiola

Rhodiola herb has various benefits when taken in supplement form. When taken regularly, it reduces depression symptoms and improves stress response, which further helps your body deal with stressful situations.

The herb may exert antidepressant effects as it tends to enhance nerve cell communication and reduce the overactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis.

4. St. John’s Wort

It’s an herb that has shown promising results in reducing depression symptoms in people.

According to a 2016 review of 35 studies, “ St. John’s Wort can help reduce symptoms in people with mild to moderate depression.” Make sure to take it carefully as it has the potential to interact with other medications. This herb can interact severely with some antidepressant medications, leading to potentially life-threatening side effects.

Depression is a mental health disorder! People with depressive symptoms require medications and therapy for the treatment. However, some people may want to try other safe methods. It can be possible by making some dietary modifications and supplements. All the supplements mentioned above can reduce depressive symptoms, and you must include them in your diet for better health.

However, we recommend you discuss with your healthcare specialist before adding any supplement to your diet.

If you want to know more about depression and depressive disorders, stay tuned to the WiseRx Discount Card blog!