Depression is a mood disorder involving more than just “feeling down in the dumps” but also includes symptoms such as sleep disturbances, fatigue and loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness and inappropriate guilt, hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, agitation, restlessness, irritability, withdrawing from activity, and suicidal thoughts. Although not all these symptoms need to be present at least five are necessary for it to be termed depression and the symptoms are more long lasting than just “feeling down”. An increase in depression over the last century has been linked to a deficiency of essential and metabolic fatty acids in the modern day diet.

Essential and metabolic fatty acids are vital to the proper functioning of the body and brain and a deficiency or imbalance between fatty acids can cause the body or mind to malfunction and increase the rate of disorders such as depression.

Essential fatty acids play an important role in the functioning of brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. If there is an incorrect balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet then the brain chemicals will not be able to function optimally and depression could result. In balancing essential and metabolic fatty acids it is important to eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as fatty fish or to supplement the diet with a fish oil or omega 3 supplement.

Hibbeln and Salem of the Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics and Biochemistry have argued that the correct balance of essential and metabolic fatty acids may help to reduce the development of depression and in particular they cite the fatty acid DHA. A study in which bipolar disorder patients were treated with DHA and EPA in conjunction with their other medication showed that DHA and EPA also improved the results with these patients and they experienced less recurrences of depression or mania.

In another study with patients suffering from depression it was shown that those who ate fatty fish two to three times per week over a period of five years were less likely to experience feelings of depression. Fatty fish is an excellent way to balance your intake of essential and metabolic fatty acids.

Our modern diet has led to a great imbalance in essential and metabolic fatty acids and a corresponding increase in depression. It is vital to correct these imbalances and tests have shown that treating patients suffering from depression with essential and metabolic fatty acids can lead to improved results and fewer recurrences of feelings of depression.

Learn more about omega 3 essential fatty acid on Attention Deficit Disorder on our site. You ll also find other information such as Fatty acids in eggs and fish oil supplement benefits arthritis. OmegaFlaxSeedOil.com is a comprehensive resource to help individuals gain the benefits of essential nutrition such as flax seed oil, omega 3 and vitamin B12.

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