Depression

I love to eat

Many people think I’ve given up eating good food to be healthy. That’s far from the truth. It’s a matter of learning about food and types of foods and going against the cultural teachings on fats and salts and sugars.

We had one child on medication for depression for several years, and another one talking about going to a doctor for similar concerns. Then the knowledge of food began to come upon our family. The one child was able to get off the medicine, the other one never had to start.  The healing journey has been life-changing for all of us and it has filtered into their own families. It’s a legacy I’m proud of and very thankful for.

Enjoy eating? Of course! I would venture to say that I will enjoy tasty food longer than a person I know who is unwilling to look at food as the answer. The pills he/she is taking will cause damage, which will lead he/she to the doctor with more problems, which will result in more medications for other problems, which will cause more problems…you get the idea. I’ve noticed that multiple medications tend to take away the taste buds.

A new way to practice medicine

I have recently noticed a new term as I surf the cyber world: functional medicine. It’s so encouraging to see such a natural way of healing entering into the medical world.

“Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century.”  [www.functionalmedicine.org] (They have a page on their site where you can search for a practitioner in your area.)

If you know anyone on antidepressants, I really hope you’ll check out this link:

http://michaelruscio.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-depression-causing-damage-to-your.html

And here’s another link. A doctor’s “functional medicine” blog: http://drtracymcalvanah.blogspot.com/2011/10/depression-linked-with-bad-digestion.html

In a nutshell

If you struggle from depression, you likely need more omega 3s in your diet, and good healing fats – plenty of them. Coconut oil, palm oil/shortening, meat fats. I also use butter. Supermarket butter is not a healing fat, but the grass-fed variety is quite expensive, so I settle for butter purchased from a Milk Producers Association in Michigan. I want to start making my own.  

The dangerous fats are the processed oils in the supermarket. They’re rancid before they ever get to the store. The manufactures do a good job of hiding the rancid odors. Canola oil is a prime example of bad oil marketed as good. [http://www.westonaprice.org/know-your-fats/the-great-con-ola]

One more link:

http://www.empoweredsustenance.com/four-traditional-fats-you-need-in-your-kitchen/

Mental health

I hope you can find your way to mental health. I hope you WANT to find your way to mental health. I spent years in a mental fog, living mostly in a state of melancholy. I treasure my good mental health now; it’s usually the first thing I list when I’m asked to write down what I’m most thankful for.