Food for Depression

Food for Depression

It is with great sadness that this is the topic of today’s blog. Most of us have been touched in some way or another by the passing of Robin Williams and specifically by his admission of his ongoing depression. On the outset of this blog by no means am I saying that depression can be cured by changing your diet. I am saying that your diet and exercise are important in light of the possibility that it can aggravate or affect your moods and should be your first defense in daily health and well-being.  

Always Seek Medical Advice

If you feel you are venturing into being depressed seek a doctor and don’t let them dismiss you. If you don’t feel you are being taken seriously, continue to seek help.  I myself was concerned many years ago when I spent two days in bed for no apparent reason. When I told the on-call doctor she told me, “Well, if you told me you spent two weeks then I would be concerned, but two days I am not concerned.” Personally I felt she was very dismissive and since she wasn’t my general doctor I decided to just leave and I went home and got on the internet and looked up everything I could including diet and made some changes that helped me.  If you feel a doctor is not taking you seriously seek out another doctor or consider a psychologist that specializes in the area of concern that you have. 

And of course if it is critical call the Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255 or go to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org 

What I Learned About Food and Drinks

Probably the most important thing I learned when I went online was that alcohol and caffeine create a cycle of ups and downs. While many people are able to have both alcohol and caffeine without this side effect creating a more severe cycle of ups and down, it is why we usually drink caffeine (to bring us up) and alcohol (to bring us down). But both can work in reverse and against each other. So if you are sensing that your moods are being affected by either of these it is best to stop for a while and assess the situation without either of them in your system. AGAIN ALWAYS SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE FIRST!

I also learned that foods play a major role in my moods, one food in particular that seems to make me feel better is pistachios. I don’t know if it is taking the time to crack them open or the protein and dietary fat or what, but pistachios have been known to create calmness. Eating foods that are found in nature are your best bet when changing your diet to affect your mood in a positive way. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, and fishes high in Omega 3. Don’t forget to include some dairy into your daily diet and protein rich and dietary fat foods like eggs and beef. In other words eating basic foods will make you feel better than eating processed foods.

Sugar

If anyone has read my book, TimerDiet you know I am against all artificial, superficial sweeteners. Raw sugar is all I keep around for others to use in their tea and coffee. I keep white cane sugar around for baking and that is about it. If you think you are not affecting your blood sugar by using artificial sweeteners you may be mistaken. My brother-in-law just had a battery of blood tests and specific diagnosing for his blood sugar, they found that when he used artificial sweeteners (his sugar of choice) that his blood sugar went up significantly more than when he used regular sugar…I tried to tell him. But at least now he has scientific proof for him that artificial sweeteners are not ok for him.

Daily Exercise

Even a daily walk for 30 minutes can positively affect your mood. I believe when you exercise it should always be about your health and well-being—NOT about losing weight. If you exercise only to lose weight you will easily talk yourself out of exercising on a routine basis. Set aside 15 minutes every day at first and then increase it to anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes a day. Have a goal in mind as to what you want to accomplish. More stamina to keep up with the kids or grandkids? Get rid of the triceps flab? Show off some biceps? Or do a walk/run 5k for your favorite charity.

There is NO One Cure ALL

When it comes to depression there is not one cure all method or drug or reason or symptom. So I hope my point is made that you must be vigilant in your daily diet and exercise and be aware of your moods based on what you put into your body and if your moods are not consistent with your expectations—seek help!

If you are not sure if what you are feeling is depression there are various websites that provide valuable information and ask you questions to help you decide if you need more help. 

My go to website is www.webmd.com do not hesitate to check out your symptoms.

Sherri Sue Fisher, author of TimerDiet and TimerOrganizer

Do Not Exercise to Lose Weight!?

Do Not Exercise to Lose Weight!?

Haven’t we all been told we need to exercise—to lose weight? Or exercise to—stay in shape! Or exercise to—get our figures back? While these are all well intentioned statements they do not seem to really hold the key as to why we—MUST exercise!

Exercise for YOU!

We MUST Exercise

We really need to exercise for so many reasons, but to lose weight is really not one of them. I recently had gotten into a tiff with my sister and when I got off the phone the first thing I thought to do was to get on the treadmill and listen to my iPod! Why? Not to lose weight, not even because it was on my to do list for the day. But because I inherently know that when I am stressed that getting on the treadmill for 20–30 minutes will make me feel better. I don’t even need to sit down and look at my alternatives, I just go to the gym or walk around the block and try to clear my head (of the drama!! Sorry Sis!!)

Daily Exercise is Also a MUST

We often hear well-meaning people say to workout 3–4 times a week, as if that is some magic number to keep you in shape. But here is the number you want to go for “7”. Each day your body needs to move and lift and expend energy! Every day, not just a few times a week. Everything that is important to keep you alive needs to be done every day, think about it: brushing your teeth, eating, voiding your bladder and bowels, breathing…you get the idea. Exercise needs to be in the daily category, not the, “When I can fit it in category.”

When Should You NOT Exercise?

As always there are exceptions to every rule: If you are truly exhausted to the point that you could injure yourself (I recommend laying down in bed and lightly stretching—if you have never done stretching before, learn some basic stretches so that you are stretching properly), or if you are sick and need your rest (but again stretching may be an option…), and also if you are recovering from physical injury then of course ask your doctor what course of action to take when it comes to your physical exertion, but more than likely they want you up and going a little bit, too.

So Why NOT Exercise to Lose Weight?

Maybe I should have started with this, but then maybe not…the truth is: If you look at exercise as a way to lose weight you will have a tendency to consider exercise as a swap of calories for food. Meaning it would become all too easy to say, “I don’t have time to exercise today—I will just skip the latte or dessert.” No, no, no! You cannot swap out exercise for a reduction in eating! Ever, never, ever!!!

 
Sherri Sue Fisher, author of TimerDiet and soon to be released (in just days—really we are down to hours) TimerOrganizer

www.timerdiet.com

www.timerorganizer.com