Can Diet and Working Out Cause Depression

Hello,

Just as the title states I was wondering if this might be true. I was reading that the lack of protein can cause depression and was wondering what you all thought?

I believe that a healthy diet and regular exercise can improve depression and anxiety issues. I tend to get mild anxiety and exercise helps immensly. I'm not sure that getting too much protein can cause depression... never heard that before.

Good healthy diet and regular exercise cannot cause depression that i know of, and they actually are good things to mix up if you find yourself getting depressed.

The only thing I can think of is if you over-train, and start to lose sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause depression. Over-training is also a symptom of certain types of anorexia (usually in males), in which case the exercise is not the cause of the depression, but rather a co-symptom of the disease.

In my opinion, no, in fact just the opposite is true. A good diet and exercise program are essential to not only physical well being, but also mental well being. Essential vitamins and nutrients needed for mental function and health are best found in a sound, healthy eating plan rich with vitamins, omega 3 fats.
http://www.depression-guide.com/diet-depression.htm
Scientific diet for depression research has found that an inadequate diet can cause or contribute to depression.
excerpt from naturaltherapypages.com:
Exercise decreases the stress hormones such as cortisol and increases endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural feel good chemicals, and when they are released through exercise, your mood is boosted naturally. As well endorphins, exercise also releases adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine. These chemicals work together to make you feel good.
Endorphins are defined as hormone-like substances that are produced in the brain and function as the body’s natural painkillers. During exercise, these endorphins are released, and this can produce feelings of euphoria and a general state of wellbeing. The endorphins produced can be so powerful that they actually mask pain. Physically active people recover from mild depression more quickly and physical activity is strongly correlated with good mental health as people age.

Thank you all for your replys very interestin. The reason I asked this was because I was reading an article about diet contributing to depression especially if you are lacking protein.

I am now taking pills for depression and I think the reason can be related to the Chantix I took to quit smoking. I notice on the tv adds now they mention now that this could be a side effect either during taking it or after stopping which in my case is after I stopped taking them.

I am just trying to figure out what I can do to get over this as it is a pain to have to deal with it. Maybe I am going through male menopause???

I am going to meet with a nutrionist next Wednesday just to make sure I am eating properly which I believe I am thanks to everyone on this board but just want to make sure.

I find the over training issue interesting because that may in fact be part of my problem as I go to the gym 6 days a week for a 1 -1 1/2 hours so maybe I should cut back a day or 2 but I really enjoy going.

Are you meeting with a Registered Dietitian or a nutritionist?

Are you meeting with a Registered Dietitian or a nutritionist?

She is both and is registered

I find the over training issue interesting because that may in fact be part of my problem as I go to the gym 6 days a week for a 1 -1 1/2 hours so maybe I should cut back a day or 2 but I really enjoy going.

Its hard to say if you are overtraining or if you need to scale it back a bit. Other symptoms of overtraining include:
Washed-out feeling, tired, drained, lack of energy
Mild leg soreness, general aches and pains
Pain in muscles and joints
Sudden drop in performance
Insomnia
Headaches
Decreased immunity (increased number of colds, and sore throats)
Decrease in training capacity / intensity
Moodiness and irritability
Depression
Loss of enthusiasm for the sport
Decreased appetite
Increased incidence of injuries.
A compulsive need to exercise

A few weeks ago i competed in my first figure competition. I was WAY overtraining for that and had been for 3 months prior (which is very common among bodybuilders). I was exhausted all the time but couldn't still couldn't sleep, I was incredibly irritable and moody, experienced a drastic decrease in training capacity and performance, and had a serious loss of enthusiasm for the sport. I ended up taking 3 days off and cut back on my training and am feeling drastically better already.

For you, your depression could just be because you are depressed... or it could be related to your training. If you actually enjoy training and aren't experiencing any of the other above symptoms then i would venture to guess that youre depression is not related to your training (keep in mind though that i'm not a doctor... a doctor could more accurately determine if you are overtraining). However, if you are feeling some of the other symptoms then you could be overtraining. The fact that you said you enjoy going to the gym kind of leads me to believe that you aren't overtraining, however as i said i'm definitely not a doctor.

Just my thoughts...

Cassie

Cassie,

I think you just convinced me that I am over training I have a lot of what you just posted going on. I think I will skip the gym tonight as my legs are pretty sore joints hurt along with the headache thing and a few other things. Cassie you may not be a Dr. but I think you may have found my cure. I am calling you Dr. Cassie from now on

I think I have about 9-10 of those symptons so it is time to slow down a bit I guess which sucks because I have built into my daily routine and like I said I really enjoy going but there is no doubt in my mind that I have to cut back

Your depression could be linked to the Medication.

Chantrix might be the same or similar to Champix, as a Doctor from Manchester England took one of those last year, developed a severe depressive response and was found dead in his bath with slashed wrists.

Such medication, has been touted as having depressive responses, in a few other people too, though I don't think it's resulted in any further suicides. Maybe one or two people have developed or entertained such thoughts, but never acted on them that I am aware of.

Lack of Protein might perhaps cause such problems too, as some Amino Acids are Neurotransmitters, (Brain stimulators), Glutamine is one, and I believe Phenylalanine is another, it has something to do with Cell regeneration, function and growth from memory.

One possibility to see if you have sufficiently recovered from your problem, would be to scale down the Anti-d's.

Some have done this before. Usually if it was some kind of medication requiring a 3-4 pills a day regimen, as you could remove one from the equation, and space the remaining ones out evenly, to see if you could get few or mild side effects, that would subside after a week, allowing you to scale back further.

This might be a regimen, best consulted on by a medical Practitioner of some sort, to assess feasibility of such aftercare, in relation to risk.

Boss Man

Thanks for your thoughts I appreciate it. I think Cassie is on to my problem and will cut back on my gym days a bit to see if this helps. I only take 1 pill a day now as it is so there isn't a way to cut back on them. I really think over training and the Chantix are the culprits here.

Thank to everyone for your thoughts they were all very helpful

There has been a lot of new research done on Chantix. Causing suicidal thoughts and severe depression. There are law suits pending over that drug.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529738,00.html
Over training can also cause mood issues. Cut back and see how you feel. I experienced overtraining and it was bad.
Male menopause does happen. It might be a good idea to see an endocrinologist who specializes in hormone imbalance. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-menopause/MC00058
Have you tried any natural treatments? I have depression/OCD and take Fish oil and Inositol. You might look into those supplements. I am not big on taking anything supplements or otherwise but Fish Oil is excellent and a lot of research has been done on Inositol and mood disorders.

Hi Littleshelly,

Thanks for the info. I was aware that there is a class action lawsuit going on. I have not been to the gym for 3 days now and will probably wait till the weekend to go again. I do feel a difference however small it is I think this break is helping. Chantix worked incredibly and I have no regrets in using it. The pharmacist told me it could take up to 6 months to start feeling normal again with the pills that I am now currently taking. I am now 2 1/2 months into it.
I have not tried any herbal medications yet as I really haven't done a lot of research on it but my sister in-law is a firm believer in them as she suffers with MS and needless to say has had her battles with depression.

I am hoping a few more days off from the gym and a less agressive gym routine when I go back will be the answer. I have changed my life a lot in the last 6 months having dropped 38 LBS and eating as healty as I ever have.

Hi Littleshelly,

Thanks for the info. I was aware that there is a class action lawsuit going on. I have not been to the gym for 3 days now and will probably wait till the weekend to go again. I do feel a difference however small it is I think this break is helping. Chantix worked incredibly and I have no regrets in using it. The pharmacist told me it could take up to 6 months to start feeling normal again with the pills that I am now currently taking. I am now 2 1/2 months into it.
I have not tried any herbal medications yet as I really haven't done a lot of research on it but my sister in-law is a firm believer in them as she suffers with MS and needless to say has had her battles with depression.

I am hoping a few more days off from the gym and a less agressive gym routine when I go back will be the answer. I have changed my life a lot in the last 6 months having dropped 38 LBS and eating as healty as I ever have.

You're welcome and keep up the good work. I take 5-6 days off completely every 6 months or so and it helps. You come back stronger. Rest is just as important as working out. Ease back into it and maybe take 2 days a week off instead of one. Good luck.

It is assuring to know someone else has gone through or is going through what I am not that I wish this on anyone. I have a tendency to do to much of anything when I start something my wife said I am obbsessive about going to the gym but it is a great release for me as I have made and ran into friends I hadn't seen in a while so it is not only a place to work out but is social in nature as well and my personal time from the rest of the world which I know a lot of folks on here would agree with. I guess I worked so hard to get where I am I am afraid that if I don't keep working hard I will go the other way and I need to get that part out of my mind that 7 days is not necessary or come to find out very healty either so I need to find a happy medium and just watch what I eat and things will be fine I am sure.

By the way I was in Canto a few years ago for the HOF

Hi Littleshelly,

Thanks for the info. I was aware that there is a class action lawsuit going on. I have not been to the gym for 3 days now and will probably wait till the weekend to go again. I do feel a difference however small it is I think this break is helping. Chantix worked incredibly and I have no regrets in using it. The pharmacist told me it could take up to 6 months to start feeling normal again with the pills that I am now currently taking. I am now 2 1/2 months into it.
I have not tried any herbal medications yet as I really haven't done a lot of research on it but my sister in-law is a firm believer in them as she suffers with MS and needless to say has had her battles with depression.

I am hoping a few more days off from the gym and a less agressive gym routine when I go back will be the answer. I have changed my life a lot in the last 6 months having dropped 38 LBS and eating as healty as I ever have.

You're welcome and keep up the good work. I take 5-6 days off completely every 6 months or so and it helps. You come back stronger. Rest is just as important as working out. Ease back into it and maybe take 2 days a week off instead of one. Good luck.