From time to time we all get depressed about something. Maybe things aren't going as good as you would like them to at work. Maybe there are problems with a close personal relationship. We all experience bouts of depression every now and then for various reasons, but usually over a short period of time it goes away. This is known as normal depression.

The other type of depression is known as clinical depression. This is a much more serious kind of depression which is caused mostly by a chemical imbalance in the brain. People who are inflicted with clinical depression are often known to be malnourished as well. When a person is depressed all sense of purpose and being is lost, and two common symptoms are that they stop caring and stop eating. There are medications that can help boost the mood of someone with clinical depression.

While food can't heal or cure depression, proper nutrition can help to reduce some of the symptoms which are; loss of appetite, loss of sleep, irritability, disorientation, chronic aches and pains, and loss of attention span.

Nutrition is the key component that ensures that our body functions right. We derive our strength from food, our mental capacity is fueled by food, our nervous systems are fueled by food, and all of our internal organs function properly by the use of food. Food helps to supply the vitamins and nutrients needed to allow every aspect of our body to work correctly. An increase in iron for example might help with the loss of appetite that comes with depression. Maybe an increase in protein would help with the loss of sleep that comes with it.

When a person has clinical depression, there are a few foods that may be beneficial to them. Meats for instance provide protein which is helpful. Eating foods that contain the hormones choline and tryptophan should be included in the diet because these hormones are known to act as mild anti-depressants. Choline and tryptophan can be found in many fresh water fish and in fresh turkey meat. Alcohol should be avoided completely because it is a depressant and only makes matters worse. Caffeine should also be avoided because it reduces the ability to sleep properly and can bring about nervousness.

When a person is in a state of depression, whether normal or clinical, it is a matter in need of attention. If left unattended, depression can lead to a whole host of problems on a physical level over time as well. The best aid in the prevention of the occurrence of these physical problems is to make sure nutrition is not lacking. If you suffer from depression or you know someone else who does, make sure food intake is not neglected as much as possible until the problem subsides and if the problem seems unconnected to anything specifically indicating it may be clinical, make sure that you or the person affected seeks medical attention.