Depression

April 23, 2004

Is there anything you all would suggest for someone like myself

who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not to

the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the point where I'm

considering going to a doctor for it and I don't like doctors.

What is the common approach to this with the raw lifestyle? Any

foods in particular that can help with this?

Thanks,

Mel

April 23, 2004

Hi Mel,

I feel a little depressed when I take occasionaly some chocolate.

Eating just fruit I feel so fine as never before. Now I have a

period of red grapes, so I will eat it till my body will wish it.

I began with vegetarianism, then raw food and fruitarianism just in

the moment when my body desired it, so I could feel always only

better and better...

Katarína

rawfood , bandbcollection <no_reply>

wrote:

> Is there anything you all would suggest for someone like myself

> who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not

to

> the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the point where I'm

> considering going to a doctor for it and I don't like doctors.

>

> What is the common approach to this with the raw lifestyle? Any

> foods in particular that can help with this?

>

> Thanks,

> Mel

April 23, 2004

You might find some of the articles at

www.alternativementalhealth.com

to be helpful.

Several ingredients to work on:

1. exercise.... pick something you like to do, or pick a variety of things

(may I suggest aqua aerobics, at the local pool?)

2. volunteer for something that involves helping people.

Let me know if any of these ideas prove useful.

Best Regards,

Margie

P.S. Dr. Gabriel Cousens, who runs this facility:

http://www.treeoflife.nu/

has a book on depression.

On Fri, 23 Apr 2004, bandbcollection wrote:

> Is there anything you all would suggest for someone like myself

> who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not to

> the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the point where I'm

> considering going to a doctor for it and I don't like doctors.

>

> What is the common approach to this with the raw lifestyle? Any

> foods in particular that can help with this?

>

> Thanks,

> Mel

>

April 24, 2004

Hi there,

I am *extremely* new to this whole scene, but my rl raw food mentor said that

cantaloupes and raw sweet potato aid depression. I havent tried it yete. I too

suffer from depression. I was on anti depressants for about 3 or 4 months. The

amazing thing is... while I still on some days feel depressed and not the kind

of mother I really want to be I feel 90% *better* than I did while on

anti-depressants. That was funky sentence structure, but I hope you get the

jist~!

Good luck

~Angela

bandbcollection <no_reply > wrote:

Is there anything you all would suggest for someone like myself

who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not to

the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the point where I'm

considering going to a doctor for it and I don't like doctors.

What is the common approach to this with the raw lifestyle? Any

foods in particular that can help with this?

Thanks,

Mel

April 24, 2004

It is very important to take air and oxygenate the body to deal with

depression. Get those natural opiates moving. With raw food and exercise I

hazard a guess that your depression will become a thing of the past. It

certainly is for me. If there is anyone in this group who has worse

depression or even depression after eating raw and exercising, it would be

useful to hear from them. I suspect that the silence would be absolute.

Another approach might be to ask how many people have found that eating raw

has made a difference to depressive symptoms.

Peter

Angela LaMonte [amadera656]

24 April 2004 02:53

rawfood

Re: [Raw Food] Depression

Hi there,

I am *extremely* new to this whole scene, but my rl raw food mentor said

that cantaloupes and raw sweet potato aid depression. I havent tried it

yete. I too suffer from depression. I was on anti depressants for about 3 or

4 months. The amazing thing is... while I still on some days feel depressed

and not the kind of mother I really want to be I feel 90% *better* than I

did while on anti-depressants. That was funky sentence structure, but I hope

you get the jist~! Good luck ~Angela

bandbcollection <no_reply > wrote:

Is there anything you all would suggest for someone like myself

who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not to

the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the point where I'm

considering going to a doctor for it and I don't like doctors.

What is the common approach to this with the raw lifestyle? Any

foods in particular that can help with this?

Thanks,

Mel

April 24, 2004

>It is very important to take air and oxygenate the body to deal with

depression.

-

The pumping of O2 will help stimulate endorphins and serotonin, but the in

the clinical depressed it's quickly reabsorbed. The cantelope and sweet

potato contain beta carotene and some niacin. It's probably the niacin that

is helping to stimulate GABA in the brain, thus helping keep the serotonin

afloat. As GABA supplements cannot cross the Blood Brain Barrier,

medications don't work on this form of depression. But Niacin, or better

yet, the synthetic niacinimide, crosses the BBB and fits the same

neuropeptide receptor on brain cells that GABA does and effectively controls

the depression. To understand how this works read Candace Pert's ground

breaking work, " Molecules of Emotion " and search for psychiatrist < " Dr.

Abram Hoffer " > who's work with orthomolecular therapy has helped thousands

of bi polar / depressive / schitzo / FM / CFS sufferers.

~~This is the natural way of actually doing what conventional medicine trys

to do with that air pollution in a pill they tout called Prosac.

rusty

-

" Peter Gardiner " <petergardiner

Saturday, April 24, 2004 12:20 AM

RE: [Raw Food] Depression

It is very important to take air and oxygenate the body to deal with

depression. Get those natural opiates moving. With raw food and exercise I

hazard a guess that your depression will become a thing of the past. It

certainly is for me. If there is anyone in this group who has worse

depression or even depression after eating raw and exercising, it would be

useful to hear from them. I suspect that the silence would be absolute.

Another approach might be to ask how many people have found that eating raw

has made a difference to depressive symptoms.

Peter

Angela LaMonte [amadera656]

24 April 2004 02:53

rawfood

Re: [Raw Food] Depression

Hi there,

I am *extremely* new to this whole scene, but my rl raw food mentor said

that cantaloupes and raw sweet potato aid depression. I havent tried it

yete. I too suffer from depression. I was on anti depressants for about 3 or

4 months. The amazing thing is... while I still on some days feel depressed

and not the kind of mother I really want to be I feel 90% *better* than I

did while on anti-depressants. That was funky sentence structure, but I hope

you get the jist~! Good luck ~Angela

bandbcollection <no_reply > wrote:

Is there anything you all would suggest for someone like myself

who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not to

the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the point where I'm

considering going to a doctor for it and I don't like doctors.

What is the common approach to this with the raw lifestyle? Any

foods in particular that can help with this?

Thanks,

Mel

April 24, 2004

So if I go out and get some canteloupe and sweet potatos you think

that would help? I haven't had any of them in a while - mostly

cause they are out of season or taste so much better cooked (arg).

Anyone have any suggestions for eating raw sweet potatos? I thought

soaking them in water would help soften them, but it didn't. It

just made foggy water.

I jump on the trampoline every day, and am a daycare teacher so I

get some exercise. Should I be doing something else that is better?

Thanks,

Melanie

rawfood , " L.Win " <rustym@p...> wrote:

The cantelope and sweet

> potato contain beta carotene and some niacin. It's probably the

niacin that

> is helping to stimulate GABA in the brain, thus helping keep the

serotonin

> afloat.

April 24, 2004

Hi, all.

I've enjoyed following this discussion, and thought I'd put my 2-cents worth in.

But first, a bit of history....

I have been vegetarian, and mostly vegan (except for a weekly ice cream or

coffee splurge) for over 10 years.

I was diagnosed with depression approximately 9 years ago, and spent several

years on Prozac or one of its cousin drugs (I was to the point where I would

have tried to hurt myself or worse, if I didn't have to be strong for my kids).

After several years, I phased out the drugs, and phased in St Johns wort, which

I have been on for over 5 years, until this past January.

Back in September 2003, I started seriously exploring and transitioning to a Raw

Food lifestyle, but was having some difficulty sticking with it, so in mid

January of this year, I started a 10-day Master Cleanse, to try and speed the

detox process. As part of the cleanse, I stopped all vitamins and herbs, as well

as the Thyroxine I'm on. At the end of the Cleanse, I did a Liver Flush.

Since that time, I have mostly followed a Raw Food Lifestyle. I have only fruit

for breakfast and lunch, followed by a dinner of either a large salad or veggies

and raw dip (either raw tahini based, raw almond-butter based, or guacamole). I

must admit, though, that I have splurged approximately one day a week with a

cooked meal at a restaurant.

I re-started the Thyroxine after the Liver Flush (although I'd like to find a

natural therapist who will help me to phase that out also). I have not gone back

on the St Johns wort or the Vitamin B complex I was taking for mood. I also have

not gone back on the regular multi vitamins or any of the sleep-aid herbs I took

on occasion.

To date, the only nights I have difficulty sleeping are after a cooked dinner.

(Early morning wakings are one of my symptoms of depression. Some people want to

sleep all the time; I get insomnia, sleeping only 3-4 hours for months on end.)

And I want to tell you that, for me, switching to a mostly raw diet seems to

have healed me of my depression.

I had tried to phase out the St Johns wort previously, only to " crash " within

4-6 weeks of reducing my dosage. Also, I have been on Vit B complex for most of

the last 25 years to even out my moods, and started rapid mood cycling within 2

months each time I tried stopping taking the Vit B. It has now been over 3

months of no St Johns, no Vit B, and no multis, and I am just fine. And I think

even my husband would support me in this (he's usually the first to suffer when

I'm depressed - I get real nasty!).

I hope this has helped you out. Please remember that we're all individuals, and

that what worked for me might not work for you.

I wish you well.

Carol

-

Peter Gardiner

rawfood

Saturday, April 24, 2004 3:20 AM

RE: [Raw Food] Depression

...

Another approach might be to ask how many people have found that eating raw

has made a difference to depressive symptoms.

...

bandbcollection <no_reply > wrote:

Is there anything you all would suggest for someone like myself

who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not to

the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the point where I'm

considering going to a doctor for it and I don't like doctors.

What is the common approach to this with the raw lifestyle? Any

foods in particular that can help with this?

Thanks,

Mel

...

April 24, 2004

Hi, this is Mary Ellen and I thought I would add my experience. I have been 100%

raw for 31 days and I have noticed that my mood has dramatically improved, with

the exception of the one evening when I was having the terrible cravings and I

thought I might lose my mind. But other than that, I feel like I am better able

to handle the stress in my life. Most of the time, I just feel very peaceful.

Also, I have been walking alot more and trying to breathe more deeply. Also, my

dd, Renee, who is ALWAYS in the " depths of depression and despair " , has been

trying out this raw diet (to lose weight only~~she has no interest in her health

whatsover, but I digress) and she told me that the thing she has noticed the

most is what a good mood she is in, even though her boyfriend got sent to jail

for three months. Of course, maybe that's one of the reasons she's in a better

mood, but I like to think it's all the raw food.

Peace, ~*~Mary Ellen~*~

-

Peter Gardiner

rawfood

Saturday, April 24, 2004 3:20 AM

RE: [Raw Food] Depression

It is very important to take air and oxygenate the body to deal with

depression. Get those natural opiates moving. With raw food and exercise I

hazard a guess that your depression will become a thing of the past. It

certainly is for me. If there is anyone in this group who has worse

depression or even depression after eating raw and exercising, it would be

useful to hear from them. I suspect that the silence would be absolute.

Another approach might be to ask how many people have found that eating raw

has made a difference to depressive symptoms.

Peter

Angela LaMonte [amadera656]

24 April 2004 02:53

rawfood

Re: [Raw Food] Depression

Hi there,

I am *extremely* new to this whole scene, but my rl raw food mentor said

that cantaloupes and raw sweet potato aid depression. I havent tried it

yete. I too suffer from depression. I was on anti depressants for about 3 or

4 months. The amazing thing is... while I still on some days feel depressed

and not the kind of mother I really want to be I feel 90% *better* than I

did while on anti-depressants. That was funky sentence structure, but I hope

you get the jist~! Good luck ~Angela

bandbcollection <no_reply > wrote:

Is there anything you all would suggest for someone like myself

who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not to

the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the point where I'm

considering going to a doctor for it and I don't like doctors.

What is the common approach to this with the raw lifestyle? Any

foods in particular that can help with this?

Thanks,

Mel

April 25, 2004

Hey Carol,

Sounds very interesting I am a vegeterian, been this

way ever since I was born, I must say that I believe

natural foods can help our bodies. However, I am going

thru' a depression myself, and do not know what is

causing it. Also us veggies are most of the time

calmer than meat eaters. But I get mad about

everything and anything. I have lost my ever sweet,

ever smiling self.

My question to you is what is liver flush? How do you

do it? Also in your diet i do not see any protiens,

how are you doing without protiens?

I would apprecite it if you can reply.

Thank you.

Atul

--- Carol MM <mathermiles wrote:

> Hi, all.

> I've enjoyed following this discussion, and thought

> I'd put my 2-cents worth in.

>

> But first, a bit of history....

> I have been vegetarian, and mostly vegan (except for

> a weekly ice cream or coffee splurge) for over 10

> years.

> I was diagnosed with depression approximately 9

> years ago, and spent several years on Prozac or one

> of its cousin drugs (I was to the point where I

> would have tried to hurt myself or worse, if I

> didn't have to be strong for my kids). After several

> years, I phased out the drugs, and phased in St

> Johns wort, which I have been on for over 5 years,

> until this past January.

>

> Back in September 2003, I started seriously

> exploring and transitioning to a Raw Food lifestyle,

> but was having some difficulty sticking with it, so

> in mid January of this year, I started a 10-day

> Master Cleanse, to try and speed the detox process.

> As part of the cleanse, I stopped all vitamins and

> herbs, as well as the Thyroxine I'm on. At the end

> of the Cleanse, I did a Liver Flush.

>

> Since that time, I have mostly followed a Raw Food

> Lifestyle. I have only fruit for breakfast and

> lunch, followed by a dinner of either a large salad

> or veggies and raw dip (either raw tahini based, raw

> almond-butter based, or guacamole). I must admit,

> though, that I have splurged approximately one day a

> week with a cooked meal at a restaurant.

> I re-started the Thyroxine after the Liver Flush

> (although I'd like to find a natural therapist who

> will help me to phase that out also). I have not

> gone back on the St Johns wort or the Vitamin B

> complex I was taking for mood. I also have not gone

> back on the regular multi vitamins or any of the

> sleep-aid herbs I took on occasion.

>

> To date, the only nights I have difficulty sleeping

> are after a cooked dinner. (Early morning wakings

> are one of my symptoms of depression. Some people

> want to sleep all the time; I get insomnia, sleeping

> only 3-4 hours for months on end.)

> And I want to tell you that, for me, switching to a

> mostly raw diet seems to have healed me of my

> depression.

> I had tried to phase out the St Johns wort

> previously, only to " crash " within 4-6 weeks of

> reducing my dosage. Also, I have been on Vit B

> complex for most of the last 25 years to even out my

> moods, and started rapid mood cycling within 2

> months each time I tried stopping taking the Vit B.

> It has now been over 3 months of no St Johns, no Vit

> B, and no multis, and I am just fine. And I think

> even my husband would support me in this (he's

> usually the first to suffer when I'm depressed - I

> get real nasty!).

>

> I hope this has helped you out. Please remember that

> we're all individuals, and that what worked for me

> might not work for you.

>

> I wish you well.

> Carol

>

> -

> Peter Gardiner

> rawfood

> Saturday, April 24, 2004 3:20 AM

> RE: [Raw Food] Depression

>

> ...

> Another approach might be to ask how many people

> have found that eating raw

> has made a difference to depressive symptoms.

>

> ...

>

> bandbcollection <no_reply > wrote:

> Is there anything you all would suggest for

> someone like myself

> who's been working at going raw, but is seriously

> depressed. Not to

> the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the

> point where I'm

> considering going to a doctor for it and I don't

> like doctors.

>

> What is the common approach to this with the raw

> lifestyle? Any

> foods in particular that can help with this?

>

> Thanks,

> Mel

> ...

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢

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April 25, 2004

I read this on another site:

http://b25.ezboard.com/fdepoproverafrm10.showMessage?topicID=427.topic

In response to inquiries from Audrey and Patricia, here are some

general comments on depression and anxiety.

In considering depression and anxiety, its important to keep general,

lest we end up over-analyzing and complicating what can be a

straightforward issue. Depression at its simplest represents a lack

of ability to formulate energy. Depression is commonly seen as

referring to low mental outlook, and feelings of hopelessness. This

indicates a overburdening of our brain cells, or nerves, whereby

they've lost their ability to function optimally and efficiently to

create and organize energy production throughout the body, the brain

included. However, because the body is a whole, other parts of the

body are necessarly involved, particularly the glandular organs, such

as the adrenals, thyroid, hypothalamus, and pineal, which are

important in prompting increased energy production throughout the

entire body. The body by way of its various glands, produces hormones

to regulate brain, glandular, and muscular activity.

In our modern day lifestyles, and especially in our eating habits, we

all abnormally drive our bodies beyond their normal capacities

without realizing it. We have gotten ourselves into a habit of

excessive stimulation in order to overcome prior feelings of

tiredness, or enervation. The tiredness originates in previous

excesses of activities, of which eating poor foods is the worst

energy usurper. Since most people are unaware of and remain untaught

of the harmful energy depleting ways of their unhealthy habits, they

begin to fall victim to an endless search for ways to keep their

energy high, such as eating when feeling down, entertaining

themselves with t.v, movies, drugs, and other excessive activities

when bored, lonely, or otherwise fatigued. This habitual pattern of

stimulative behaviour, which is not respectful of the body's need for

rest and recuperation after activity, leads to the excessive

stimulation of those glands and tissues in our bodies that are

responsible for creating energy.

So for example, the adrenal glands, instead of being able to rest

when a person is feeling down or tired, are forced to work overtime

again as the person indulges in a slice of pizza. Not only do the

adrenals tire out, but also the thyroid which creates hormones to

stimulate the adrenals, and the hypothalamus which creates hormones

to stimulate the thyroid. In this process, neurotransmitters are used

by the brain to relay messages, and eventually the neurotransmitters

themselves become short in supply as the glands and nerve cells that

are forced to produce the various transmitters tire out and wear

down. When our bodies lose their ability to produce normal levels of

hormones, transmitters, and other important chemicals for bodily

processes, we experience depression -- a lack of ability to function

energetically.

Concurrent with the development of depression throughout the body,

and particularly in the brain, is anxiety. Anxiety is really an

internal recognition by the body of a threat to its existence. It is

a feeling of insecurity that is the result of excess burden put on

the body, burden that is starting to go beyond the body's ability to

resolve. People call this stress, but it is really over-stress.

Stress is a good thing, overstress is a bad thing. Over-stress occurs

when we eat foods not of our biological adaptations, when we over

exercise, or overdo anything. In response to stress, our brain will

activate itself and the entire body to correct the situation, but

when the brain is continually forced to do this, its very ability to

do this is lessened, since it can never rest enough to regenerate and

restore its functions. We end up having feelings of stress build up

due to following excessive habits, but after the brief stimulative

period, we are not able to develop enough hormones, neuro-

transmitters, and other chemicals to resolve within us the stressed

state of our cells. So we continue to feel this tensive state for

unusually extended periods of time. A person who is anxious has

little ability in that moment to handle more tasks and will avoid

situations that even only slightly stress them.

To the extent that a person abuses their organs, brain cells, and

body in general with excessive stimulation, and in conjunction with

their predisposed various strengths in glands and organs, will the

person experience the severity of anxiety and depression in their

life. Depression and anxiety slowly build up over decades, even right

from birth if energy usurping practices are followed. The individual

who manages to overcome these problems by incorporating truly

healthful practices into their life in the greatest degree will come

to see how in their former lives their depressive and anxious

symptoms slowly increased, as they remained oblivious and ignorant of

the consequences of their harmful actions.

A return to raw food eating provides the body with an immensely

reduced digestive load while providing vast quantities of energy. It

will take a period of time for the body to heal its glands, nerves,

digestive faculties and other tissues, but as it does so, its strong

function will return and symptoms of depression and anxiety will fade

and disappear. It usually does not happen overnight, as a person who

is depressed and anxious has much lessened ability to create energy,

which is required for healing. However, depending on the person and

the intensity of the depression, recovery can sometimes be very fast.

Sometimes just simple little activities like eating too late are all

that are preventing the body from being able to re-generate adequate

nerve energy reserves over night and thus causing it to experience

depression.

It is important to note that, at their roots, all depression and

anxiety are physiological problems and all physiological problems are

chemical problems, or chemical imbalance. Depression and anxiety are

said to be mental and emotional problems, but it must be noted that

our mental and emotional processes are undertaken by our nerves that

make up our brains and which extend everywhere throughout our bodies.

Our nerves are supported by all other tissues in the body, including

our glands, muscles, blood vessels, lymph vessels, and mucous

membranes, even as our nerves serve these various tissues. It's a

whole, interconnected, interdependant system, all for one, one for

all. All of these organs, including nerve cells, are constructed of

and are creating billions of interacting chemicals all of the time

which we experience as the process of life. It is through our nervous

system that we are consciously aware of this life process, due to the

electrical currents thusly created in nerve cells.

This infinitely complex system of chemical, then cellular, then

glandular, and finally nerve reactions occuring in our bodies is

always automatically striving to maintain that state of balance that

we describe as total well being, or health. It is a system that is

dependant upon wholeness of action. This means that it is also

dependant on getting whole foods into it, foods which are also

biologically and physiologically correct for it. When all its needs

are met correctly, the body in its whole will function optimally. To

the extent its whole needs are not met, it will suffer dis-comfort,

or dis-ease, or chemical imbalance. Depression and anxiety are two of

these symptoms of imbalance.

So anyone who has regularly abused themselves in the past with

unhealthy habits will undoubtedly have suffered some extent of

anxiety or depression, no matter how light. Who suffers more or who

suffers less is determined by the extent of the bad habits and the

particular strengths and weaknesses of various organs (a person's

diathesis, as is said, or their constitution, or tendencies, or

inheritance, or genetic makeup, etc). Were a person not to indulge in

bad habits, then their diathesis would be irrelevant. Some people

will experience depression or anxiety since, say, their dopamine

producing cells get overworked first, while others will experience

asthma as their lung cells get overworked. Those who continually

indulge in poor health practices all suffer various levels of the

innumerable ailments of modern life, but its only when the ailments

become severely aggravated that we tend to recognize them and call

them particular dis-eases.

So, are we anywhere with all the discussion? We aught to be by now. A

person could go on for years describing all the various chemical,

nerve, and organ reactions going on in the body in regards to

depression and anxiety, but it would get us nowhere closer to

understanding what to do to resolve the problem. We already know that

depression means lack of energy production and that anxiety means

inability to overcome threat to oneself. But now that we know what

causes needless energy loss and what puts unnecessary threat upon the

body, namely unhealthy energy depleting habits, we automatically know

what to do to resolve the problem ---adopt healthy habits as they

pertain to the situation we find ourselves in. So a person needs to

eat whole healthy foods, refrain from excessis of behaviour, develop

emotional calm, get fresh air and adequate sleep, enjoy sunshine, and

so on. Rest is very important, and it may even be necessary to fast

for a few days, a week, or more, before adopting more sensible active

health habits, such as eating fruits and vegetables.

Because diet is the number one major culprit of health destruction in

our age, it is the one area, when improved, that gives the greatest

results in depression and anxiety. It may take time for the body to

resolve the healing required in our nerves and organs, but it will

come so long as good habits are continually fostered and persevered

in.

Some notable poor dietary habits that lead to depression and anxiety

are: overeating in general, eating too much at one meal, eating

concentrated foods (particularly sugary foods like dried fruits,

which drive our adrenals and dope our brains with excessive glucose),

eating late (after say 6pm), eating haphazzard combinations of foods,

eating spicy and stimulating foods, pursuing foods as a comforting or

exciting activity in order to avoid low feelings(called emotional

abuse), eating beyond needs dictated by activity level, eating for

entertainment, eating foods that are supposedly healthy like sea

salt, vinegar, wine, garlic, and others that only serve to stimulate

cleansing but not actual healing, binging, purging, eating before

noon, eating heavy foods early in the day instead of later,

overeating particular types of foods, especially the heavy more

concentrated foods such as avocados (excess fat), nuts and seeds

(excess protein and fat), and dried fruits (excess sugars), eating

unripe fruits that don't satisfy appetite, mixing foods to

overstimulate appetite (eg: fruit bowls, large complex salads with

tasty fatty dressings), prolonged and excessive starch or

concentrated sugar consumption, and generally speaking, overeating,

once again and again and again and.....

Growing up, I was a specialist in the overeating department,

unknowingly, and if there was one thing that was gonna kill me, that

was it. I suffered immense amounts of anxiety and depression from

overeating, and I only made the connection after I improved my diet.

Then I realized what an extreme food alcoholic I had been all my

life, particularly a starch and sugar addict. I tried all sorts of

procedures and a few medications to get over my depression/anxiety,

some of which seemed to work, but which I dropped once I discovered

my main problem was food addiction. It takes time to develop sensible

eating habits after a life time of abuse, but the good feelings that

one remembers as a child slowly return and dominate ones

mental/emotional/physical state as pure raw ripe fresh whole foods

dominate the diet. If I hadn't experienced it, I wouldn't believe it

possible, but its so obvious to me now.

Other lifestyle factors are important to consider as well, such as

fun exercise, sleep, rest, sun, social activities, intimacy or love

expression, fasting if necessary, abstaining from excesses of all

types, development of emotional calm, good water if necessary, bodily

cleanliness and purity (I don't mean soaps, etc here), productive

work, mental stimulation, enjoyable emotional expression, security of

life and means, warmth, aesthetic environment, and others.

Of course once a person resolves their habits that lead to depression

and anxiety, that person must remain aware that depression and

anxiety are where their body first demonstrates a breakdown when bad

habits are indulged. Thus they can expect to feel poorly once they

indulge badly. I note in myself when I sometimes overeat (still here

and there, eh, can ya believe it!! --though I don't overeat anything

near like I used to) that the next day I start to get the slightly

down feeling slightly reminiscent of the past. It's a good reminder

to keep towing the line. But of course, feeling great is an even

greater reminder.

A person needs to be patient with themselves, persevere, remain

attentive to improvements, and thus develop a sense of control and

admiration of oneself. Living healthfully automatically generates

those feelings that we associate with confidence and comfort. Living

unhealthfully removes us from those feelings because it creates

imbalances within our bodies, and as our nerves sense and experience

those imbalances, we experience feelings of non-conconfidence, worry

and foreboding. It's sometimes a more challenging route to choose

health improvement over drug therapy or other misapplied solutions to

depression and anxiety, but the rewards run much deeper.

Hopefully that didn't over-complicate the subject. Somewhere some

general simple concepts were discussed, with logical solutions to

problems.

rawfood , bandbcollection <no_reply> wrote:

> Is there anything you all would suggest for someone like myself

> who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not

to

> the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the point where I'm

> considering going to a doctor for it and I don't like doctors.

>

> What is the common approach to this with the raw lifestyle? Any

> foods in particular that can help with this?

>

> Thanks,

> Mel

April 25, 2004

rawfood , bandbcollection <no_reply>

wrote:

> Anyone have any suggestions for eating raw sweet potatos? I

thought

> soaking them in water would help soften them, but it didn't. It

> just made foggy water.

>

I slice my sweet potatoes very thin (spiralize) and marinate them.

Then I dehydrate them for about 1/2 a day and eat them as barbequed

potato chips. I have to bag these in small baggies or I'll go

overboard.

Rhonda

April 25, 2004

Atul,

Being vegetarian with grain and dairy does not pass many tests on being

healthy. The key to improving your situation is almost certainly the removal

of those items. If however they have gone, along with all cooking, I would

be fascinated to hear as encountering a long term raw foodist who is

depressive would be new for me.

At first sight, ridding the body of addictive grain and dairy, seems a tough

order. However after you have been two weeks without them, you will be

unlikely to want to return to them and the depression, I suspect will be

gone.

Peter

atul patel [archipat2001]

25 April 2004 02:59

rawfood

Re: [Raw Food] Depression

Hey Carol,

Sounds very interesting I am a vegeterian, been this

way ever since I was born, I must say that I believe

natural foods can help our bodies. However, I am going

thru' a depression myself, and do not know what is

causing it. Also us veggies are most of the time

calmer than meat eaters. But I get mad about

everything and anything. I have lost my ever sweet,

ever smiling self.

My question to you is what is liver flush? How do you

do it? Also in your diet i do not see any protiens,

how are you doing without protiens?

I would apprecite it if you can reply.

Thank you.

Atul

--- Carol MM <mathermiles wrote:

> Hi, all.

> I've enjoyed following this discussion, and thought

> I'd put my 2-cents worth in.

>

> But first, a bit of history....

> I have been vegetarian, and mostly vegan (except for

> a weekly ice cream or coffee splurge) for over 10

> years.

> I was diagnosed with depression approximately 9

> years ago, and spent several years on Prozac or one

> of its cousin drugs (I was to the point where I

> would have tried to hurt myself or worse, if I

> didn't have to be strong for my kids). After several

> years, I phased out the drugs, and phased in St

> Johns wort, which I have been on for over 5 years,

> until this past January.

>

> Back in September 2003, I started seriously

> exploring and transitioning to a Raw Food lifestyle,

> but was having some difficulty sticking with it, so

> in mid January of this year, I started a 10-day

> Master Cleanse, to try and speed the detox process.

> As part of the cleanse, I stopped all vitamins and

> herbs, as well as the Thyroxine I'm on. At the end

> of the Cleanse, I did a Liver Flush.

>

> Since that time, I have mostly followed a Raw Food

> Lifestyle. I have only fruit for breakfast and

> lunch, followed by a dinner of either a large salad

> or veggies and raw dip (either raw tahini based, raw almond-butter

> based, or guacamole). I must admit, though, that I have splurged

> approximately one day a week with a cooked meal at a restaurant.

> I re-started the Thyroxine after the Liver Flush

> (although I'd like to find a natural therapist who

> will help me to phase that out also). I have not

> gone back on the St Johns wort or the Vitamin B

> complex I was taking for mood. I also have not gone

> back on the regular multi vitamins or any of the

> sleep-aid herbs I took on occasion.

>

> To date, the only nights I have difficulty sleeping

> are after a cooked dinner. (Early morning wakings

> are one of my symptoms of depression. Some people

> want to sleep all the time; I get insomnia, sleeping

> only 3-4 hours for months on end.)

> And I want to tell you that, for me, switching to a

> mostly raw diet seems to have healed me of my

> depression.

> I had tried to phase out the St Johns wort

> previously, only to " crash " within 4-6 weeks of

> reducing my dosage. Also, I have been on Vit B

> complex for most of the last 25 years to even out my

> moods, and started rapid mood cycling within 2

> months each time I tried stopping taking the Vit B.

> It has now been over 3 months of no St Johns, no Vit

> B, and no multis, and I am just fine. And I think

> even my husband would support me in this (he's

> usually the first to suffer when I'm depressed - I

> get real nasty!).

>

> I hope this has helped you out. Please remember that

> we're all individuals, and that what worked for me

> might not work for you.

>

> I wish you well.

> Carol

>

> -

> Peter Gardiner

> rawfood

> Saturday, April 24, 2004 3:20 AM

> RE: [Raw Food] Depression

>

> ...

> Another approach might be to ask how many people

> have found that eating raw

> has made a difference to depressive symptoms.

>

> ...

>

> bandbcollection <no_reply > wrote:

> Is there anything you all would suggest for

> someone like myself

> who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not to

> the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the

> point where I'm

> considering going to a doctor for it and I don't

> like doctors.

>

> What is the common approach to this with the raw

> lifestyle? Any

> foods in particular that can help with this?

>

> Thanks,

> Mel

> ...

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢

ph/print_splash

April 25, 2004

Hello, Atul.

...

> My question to you is what is liver flush? How do you

> do it? Also in your diet i do not see any protiens,

> how are you doing without protiens?

>

...

First off, to check out the Master Cleanse and the Liver Flush, go to either

www.curezone.org. or curezone.com (I can't remember what the correct address

is). I have been told by several therapists (Shiatsu, Naturopath, etc.) that

the Liver is the seat of Anger, and I have a very weak liver. Is it any

surprise that my Depression expresses itself as Anger? So it was very

important to me to clean out the toxins.

Re proteins - first off, Nut butter and Tahini (sesame seed butter) are

Loaded with protein. Also, my understand is that every vegetable and fruit

has plenty of protein in it for the human body. Think about this -- human

milk for our growing babies, who are developing at a faster rate than at any

other time of their lives, is only 6% protein (I think that's the right

number, but I know for sure it's under 10% -- I'm not a medical specialist

of any kind, just read a LOT). So, if a baby doesn't need more than 10%

protein in their diet, why would you think we need any more than that? Cows

eat grass. Elephants eat leaves and bark. Gorillas eat mostly fruit and

berries. They are all huge muscular animals, and don't eat any " protein "

except what they get from plants. If you really want to understand about the

proteins in plants, go to the USDA Nutrient Database (I don't remember the

URL, but you can find it pretty easy by searching for those keywords) and

compare the composition of 100 calories of beef steak compared with 100

calories of spinach or romaine lettuce. It will blow your mind!!

I hope that's helped you, Atul.

Good luck on your journey.

Carol

April 25, 2004

Wow, Christy!

Thanks for forwarding that on.

Amazing!

Carol

-

Christy

rawfood

Saturday, April 24, 2004 10:41 PM

[Raw Food] Re: Depression

I read this on another site:

http://b25.ezboard.com/fdepoproverafrm10.showMessage?topicID=427.topic

In response to inquiries from Audrey and Patricia, here are some

general comments on depression and anxiety.

<snip>

April 25, 2004

Hi, Peter and Atul.

I wholeheartedly concur, Peter.

Until I started the Raw Food diet last September, we ate pasta probably 5-6

nights a week, and rice or rye the rest of the time. I didn't use dairy, except

for my weekly fix of ice cream. And I was locked in a depression that was only

controlled artificially (St Johns wort and massive doses of Vitamin B).

Now that I am eating only Raw fruits and vegetables, I feel light and happy. Not

artificially happy, but totally content with life, even through all the stresses

and bumps that occur. And all the cravings for pasta, bread and ice cream have

gone.

It is SO worth it! Life is worth living again!

Carol

-

Peter Gardiner

rawfood

Sunday, April 25, 2004 4:14 AM

RE: [Raw Food] Depression

Atul,

Being vegetarian with grain and dairy does not pass many tests on being

healthy. The key to improving your situation is almost certainly the removal

of those items. If however they have gone, along with all cooking, I would

be fascinated to hear as encountering a long term raw foodist who is

depressive would be new for me.

At first sight, ridding the body of addictive grain and dairy, seems a tough

order. However after you have been two weeks without them, you will be

unlikely to want to return to them and the depression, I suspect will be

gone.

Peter

April 25, 2004

Hi Rhonda,

What do you marinate these sweet potatoes in?

Thanks,

Valerie

>I slice my sweet potatoes very thin (spiralize) and marinate them.

>Then I dehydrate them for about 1/2 a day and eat them as barbequed

>Potato chips. I have to bag these in small baggies or I'll go

>overboard.

>Rhonda

April 25, 2004

Back in the 90s, I was diagnosed bi-polar. I was hospitalized on

various occasions. Over the next several years I was prescribed

every antidepressant known at the time, including lithium. Since

being raw, I am no longer depressed and don't take so much as an

aspirin. I started eating raw over three and a half years ago. I

found it difficult to be consistently raw for more than a couple

months at a time. When I'd go back to eating cooked food, some

depression would come back. I would find myself in a vicious cycle:

depressed because I ate cooked and eating more cooked because I was

depressed. For me, eating all living foods and getting fresh air and

exercise is far better than " what the doctor ordered. "

Annette

rawfood , " Peter Gardiner "

<petergardiner@e...> wrote:

>

> Another approach might be to ask how many people have found that

eating raw

> has made a difference to depressive symptoms.

>

April 25, 2004

rawfood , " Christy " <yogafreeze> wrote:

> I read this on another site:

>

> http://b25.ezboard.com/fdepoproverafrm10.showMessage?

topicID=427.topic

Thanks for posting this Christy! Wow...I agree Robert should write a

book...

Donna DM

P.S.

Did Jinjee have her baby yet?

April 25, 2004

rawfood , bandbcollection <no_reply> wrote:

> Is there anything you all would suggest for someone like myself

> who's been working at going raw, but is seriously depressed. Not

to

> the point of hurting myself or my kids, but to the point where I'm

> considering going to a doctor for it and I don't like doctors.

>

> What is the common approach to this with the raw lifestyle? Any

> foods in particular that can help with this?

>

> Thanks,

> Mel

Hi Mel,

Perhaps you are struggling with " burn-out " from over stressed

adrenals? As Robert stated, this is common for those that can't

handle to much excess fat (like found in avocados) or to much

protein/fat (as found in nuts and seeds). It doesn't mean you have to

completely give those foods up, just watch your intake. Citus fruits

are good for lifting the spirits and their pith with is high in

bioflavonoids support the adrenals. There are many herbs that work as

adaptogens such as siberian ginseng, licorice root and nettles that

also support the adrenals. Maca root is another adaptogen to

consider.

Dr. Gabriel Cousens has used blue-green algae to treat many of his

patients with depression.

http://www.e3live.net/reinwidrgaco.html

EJR - Have you used E3Live™ successfully with alcohol and drug

problems?

GC - Yes. E3Live is an essential part of my treatment program. Almost

everyone I see, I put on E3Live because it helps with the underlying

depression and helps heal the biologically altered, addictive brain

aspects behind these destructive behaviors. I believe E3 Live is

God's gift for people with a biologically altered brain because of

poor diet and poor genetics. These people suffer a lot in this world.

One way they cope with the suffering is alcoholism and drugs. There

are obviously better, less destructive ways to cope.

------

Of course there is no substitute for proper rest, fresh air and

sunshine..If you find fasting makes your energy levels worse, than

make sure you support your adrenals, as fasting can too

be " stressful " ...which is why many people insist on bed-rest and non-

stimulating activities...something hard to do when you have

kids...Maybe try mono-diets of fresh fruit, as an alternative to

fasting....

Hang-in there...as it will soon pass once you restore your nerve-

energy.

Donna DM

April 25, 2004

hi Donna, Bean sprouts works great for depression. Put it in your

salad...lentil, mung, etc

Donna <ddm_rhn wrote:rawfood ,

bandbcollection <no_reply> wrote: