Although antidepressant drugs are widely prescribed for the treatment of anxiety and depression, it is not fully understood how they work. Medical literature suggests that modern antidepressants work by increasing levels of serotonin, noradrenaline or dopamine in the brain. This is suggested to occur by inhibition of reuptake mechanisms that act to reduce these neurotransmitters for their intra-synaptic location. However, evidence is accumulating that antidepressant may actually be effective because they are antioxidants. For example, in one study, researchers measured the antioxidant status of a group of individuals taking antidepressants. The results of the study showed that after 12 weeks of antidepressant therapy there was a significant increase in the antioxidant status of the subjects, and this was accompanied by a significant decrease in oxidative stress. Therefore the antidepressant treatment was effective at significantly improving the antioxidant capacity of the subjects, suggesting that the antidepressants were antioxidants.
Antioxidants are effective at preventing and treating mood disorders because oxidative stress is a primary cause of the brain changes that lead to anxiety and depression. This relates to the inflammatory pathways activated by stress, which are accompanied by a significant increase in the generation of free radicals. These free radicals generate oxidative stress, and antioxidants are effective at preventing the tissue damage to the brain associated with these changes. Plant antioxidants are also effective antidepressants and anxiolytic agents, but are not associated with side effects like pharmaceutical antidepressants. A plant rich diet is therefore effective at preventing and treating mood disorders.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, protect Yourself
RdB
