What are the Root Causes of Depression in Most People?

By Alane Palmer, ND, CNC, and Donna Manrique
www.NutritionallyYours.net

“What Are the Root Causes of Depression in Most People?” talk about hormones, thyroid, vitamin deficiencies, low cortisol due to burnout from a situation or an illness, food reactions

Feeling sad and blue? No longer interested in things you used to enjoy? Do you have trouble getting out of bed? Do you suffer from anxiety about being in social situations because you are not your normal cheerful self?

You are not alone. Depression impacts about 15 million adults (18 and older) in the US, roughly equal to 6.7% and it takes on many forms. But the key to managing depression can be very simple to impact once the root cause is identified. Depression can be caused by several things:

Hormones
Thyroid
Vitamin Deficiencies
Low Cortisol
Illness
Autoimmunity
Food Reactions (YES – even food reactions!)
Poor Gut Health
Vitamin or Mineral Deficiency

Let’s take a closer look….

The HORMONES that can affect your mood and therefore lead to depression are cortisol, progesterone, and estrogen. Estrogen at “normal” levels increases GABA, boosts serotonin and raises endorphins.

Serotonin promotes sleep – another related side effect of depression
GABA – is a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect
Endorphins – have the feel good factor

Progesterone, sometimes referred to as the natural antidepressant, is also known to help you sleep and give you that calming feeling. And Cortisol is the stress factor, whether it’s too high or too low, it can present issues. When Cortisol is too low it presents itself in symptoms such as extreme fatigue, mood instability, constant sickness, not being able to handle stress and low libido.

Thyroid is also a leading cause of depression and changes your energy, appetite, mood, sleep, heart function, digestion and even your hair skin and nails! What causes your thyroid to be low? There can be up to NINE different causes! Here we go!

1. Thyroid Inflammation
2. Diet – (iodine and selenium deficiency)
3. Hormone Imbalance (see above)
4. Leaky Gut
5. Genetics
6. Pregnancy
7. Medication interactions
8. STRESS
9. Sedentary lifestyle

And of course we have to look at our diet. What do people usually eat when they feel depressed? Most likely it is not full of leafy greens, fruit, organic meats etc etc. When people feel down they tend to reach for the quick and sweet stuff and the depression gets worse. Your body needs fuel when you are down and this fuel (healthy food) converts to energy and when we have energy we tend to feel happier.

The opposite is also true, It’s almost a double-edged sword; ILLNESS can also cause depression. It’s simple: when someone is diagnosed with an illness, it can mean significant life changes and impact many areas.

Mobility       Self Confidence          Independence      Pain      Physical Hardship        Life Disturbances       Fatigue

There is a way to make a POSITIVE impact!!!! I’m sure by now you see how everything all comes back to two things: Nutrition matters AND Getting to the root cause and fixing it!

Come in for a comprehensive appointment. We want to hear what is going on and help you feel better! We will map out a dietary plan to help get you back on track to feeling better. We will also run thorough tests on you to figure out what is “physically” causing the depression feelings.

And that’s what we do, help make the world a better place one person at a time! We would love to partner with you to get you back to being the best you EVER!

Phone: 678-372-2913

Email: alanepnd@gmail.com 

Website: Nutritionallyyours.net

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Medical disclaimer: Nutritionally Yours is not a medical clinic. Testing cannot be used to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. All test results are to be used as educational materials and as a guide to help support your overall health and wellness. Always discuss health concerns with your medical doctor. We have a nutritionist, naturopath and a medical doctor on staff to help you feel your best.

REFERENCES:

https://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics

https://www.bodylogicmd.com/for-women/hormones-and-depression

https://draxe.com/hypothyroidism-diet-natural-treatment/

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55170