Following on from last week’s article regarding the effect that exercise can have on depression, I wanted to discuss the importance of your diet and how this also has a huge effect on your mood.

For this article I contacted a colleague of mine – Cori Withell – who has a history of depression.

It was her own experiences which led to her becoming an expert in her field, researching the exact effects that food can have on your mood.

She is now an incredibly successful progressive mind coach and has helped me a lot in many situations, both personal and with my clients.

Depression, whether it is reactive or endogenous (this means there is no specific event to relate it to), can be massively helped by nutrition and exercise. Most depressive illnesses, although not all, are caused by a lack of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is created by the body from tryptophan – and tryptophan comes from food. Typically, when we feel low we pick those foods that have comforted us in the past, such as bread, cakes, sweets, cheese, soups and pasties.

The problem with these foods is that their nutrient content is not very high. They leave you feeling lethargic and your mood often dips further, so you then reach for more of these foods.

We need to break that cycle. All leafy greens and proteins such as chicken and turkey are high in tryptophan but understandably, once we are down, the drive to prepare a health-conscious meal is pretty low on the agenda. The last thing you want to do is cook a chicken casserole with cabbage and broccoli.

You need to plan and prepare for these times, make sure you have homemade meals in the freezer at all times.

I know I go on and on about it, but this is so important, whatever your goal is.

The bulk of your diet should consist of plenty of vegetables and high quality proteins.

We currently live in a society where we seem to have a pill to fix everything. Whatever happened to looking after ourselves?

Taking just small steps to look after yourselves by introducing more chicken, turkey and green vegetables, particularly the leafy ones, into your diet will go a long way in making you feel better.

I’m not saying it will fix you; it may, or it may not. But at least you will know you have tried. Don’t ever make the mistake of underestimating the power of nutrition in our lives today. Our bodies are amazing machines, think of them as if they are a car – it only runs as well as the fuel you put in it and the way you look after it. Your body is no different. Please feel free to contact me on the below email for any more advice or any questions you may have.