Depression affects millions of people in America each year. Varying levels of treatments and varying ability to tolerate medicines causes many people to seek out natural depression treatments as alternatives to drug treatments that may have been ineffective. It may sound strange, but fish oil depression treatment is one of the most popular homeopathic methods available. Fish oil can increase the effectiveness of drug treatments and in some cases replace drug antidepressants altogether. Study after study has shown that people who use fish oil depression treatments have a significant increase in the effectiveness of their treatments overall and a decrease in depression symptoms. This makes it more likely that people will remain on the treatment and continue to see improvements. Symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, sleeping problems and even sexual dysfunction can be decreased or eliminated with the use of fish oil.
In Fish Oil
Fish oil depression treatments include omega-3 fatty acids which are known to improve brain function and development. Even low levels of the supplement make great strides in improving depression symptoms. It has been recognized through research that people who have low levels of the fatty acid EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are more likely to become depressed. EPA regulated normal brain function and is a necessary component in mental health. The omega-3 fatty acids that are located in fish oil can be found in other foods such as walnuts, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds.
Fish Oil Depression Treatment
The fish oil depression treatment is believed to work by allowing improved absorption of the chemical medicines prescribed for depression. It is also thought that the fatty acids in fish oil depression treatments replace and increase levels of fats in the brain tissue which can improve or restore brain function. Along with improving brain function, fish oil depression treatments are thought to be helpful in patients who may have risk factors for heart disease.
Proving the Method
Studies were done in multiple countries and across many ethnic lines to find out incidences of depression and how it is treated in different areas of the world. The results were quite surprising to the researchers involved. They found the people in eastern Asian populations tend to have lower incidences of adult depression overall (less than 2% in Taiwan versus almost 20% in Lebanon). When they compared other countries, they found that those with higher fish consumption have lower incidences of depression which spurred research into why this fact exists. Studies were even done focusing on specific types of depression, including bipolar depression as a primary type, and similar results were found.
Statistics
Here are some research-based statistics on depression related to fish oil depression treatments and omega-3 fatty acids:
Depression is 60 times higher in New Zealand (where the average consumption of seafood is 40 pounds a year) compared to Japan (where the average consumption of seafood is nearly 150 pounds per year).
Postpartum depression is 50 times more common in countries with low levels of seafood consumption. It is well known that during pregnancy, the woman’s body becomes depleted of fatty acids because they are transferred to the baby for fetal development.
Omega-3 is critical to the growth and maintenance of brain cells, especially cell membranes.
When omega-3 is not available, the body uses omega-6. This fatty acid is similar but produces cell membranes less able to cope with neurotransmitter traffic and more likely to have problems which lead to depression symptoms.
