Antidepressants Don’t Work – 3 Alternatives That Do
Posted by admin | Under Antidepressants Friday Mar 19, 2010
A nutrition client of mine asked me about taking an antidepressant to ease despair over her financial crisis. Her retirement savings are all but gone. She is devastated and wants relief.
Although it may seem like taking an antidepressant is a powerful way to escape emotional pain, it turns out sugar pills may work better than drugs. Placebo produces similar or greater improvements than nine FDA-approved antidepressants according to a 2002 study published in the Journal of Neuopsychopharmacology. Yet nine of 10 people get a prescription drug on the spot when they go to their doctor complaining of depression. I guess it’s easier to send someone away with a pill than to discuss feelings or lifestyle.
Drug companies are required to conduct two trials showing success before they can market an antidepressant. It took five trials of Prozac before seeing results. Paxil and Zoloft required even more tests to show improvements.
More than 100,000 deaths per year result from properly prescribed meds. Even more people die from overdose and drug interactions. Suicide is so strongly linked with antidepressants, warning labels are required. Why not choose a natural, safe and effective remedy?
Three natural alternatives to antidepressants have been shown in study after study to be highly effective for depression, fatigue and anxiety. They include:
Aerobic Exercise:
Studies show one hour of aerobic exercise relieves depression, tension, anger and fatigue. A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine reported that in patients with major depression, exercise worked as well as the antidepressant Zoloft after four months, and went on to outperform this drug after 10 months. Exercise stimulates catecholamines, our own natural energy and mood boosters. Get out and walk, swim, cycle or dance for 45 to 50 minutes at least three days per week.
Omega-3 Fat:
International and national studies show populations who consume the most omega-3-rich fish have the lowest levels of depression. A recent study found depressed patients have 35% less DHA (an omega-3 fat) in their cells than non-depressed patients. The American Journal of Psychiatry reported that in one month just 2 grams of the omega-3 fat, EPA, improved symptoms of depression, where drugs failed. Eat more anchovies, wild salmon, sardines, leafy greens, flax and walnuts. Take 2 to 3 teaspoons of fish oil, cod liver oil or flax oil per day.
Sunlight:
The shorter days of winter leave many people depressed with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Sunlight boosts a brain enzyme that enables us to produce chemicals that keep us energized and happy; lack of sunlight causes neurons that produce these chemicals to die off. Neuroscientists recently discovered rats deprived of sunlight suffered damage to brain regions known to be underactive in humans with depression. Hospitalized patents exposed to sunlight report more vitality, less distress and less pain than those who get little sun. Sunlight enables us to make vitamin D, a key to balanced mood but also to prevention of bone loss, cancer, infectious disease, heart disease and diabetes. Enjoy sunlight on at least half your unclothed body 10 to 20 minutes (more if you have dark skin) five days a week. Don’t burn. Sunscreen blocks the benefit.
