This One Dry Fruit Helps You Fight Depression

As hard as it is to admit, many of us have suffered from depression ourselves at some point or we have known people who have had to go through it.

Many studies claim that depression is a 'modern mental disorder', which is on the rise, thanks to the stress and pressure that come in with today's competitive lifestyle.

Depression is a serious mental condition that must not be taken lightly. Most of us have days when we feel low, listless or sad, those may be regular mood swings.

But, people going through depression continue to experience symptoms like hopelessness, disinterest, fatigue, sadness and even suicidal tendencies on a daily basis.

Depression is a condition that requires an immediate attention, and it is definitely treatable with various behavioural therapies, counselling and prescription drugs that help in elevating the mood. However, most of these drugs are known to have negative side effects.

Many of the pills prescribed for depression can make a person experience side effects such as nausea, fatigue, headache, disorientation, etc, which can hamper his/her daily life.

For this reason, many people prefer to seek natural/herbal remedies to treat depression and anxiety that are equally effective having no side effects.

Many natural ingredients, available easily, are known to help reduce the symptoms of depression to a great extent. Cashew nut is one such ingredient, which can be added to your diet to keep your mood elevated and reduce milder forms of depression to a significant extent.

Experts claim that a few cashew nuts have the same effect as that of a dose of Prozac, which is a popular antidepressant prescription drug. So, let us see how cashews help in treating depression and anxiety.

Source Of Serotonin
Along with being rich in nutrients such as iron, proteins and omega-3 fatty acids, cashews are also packed with an amino acid known as Tryptophan, which helps the body to produce the hormone Serotonin (antidepressant hormone) effectively.

Poor production of serotonin in the brain is one of the major causes for depression, leading to symptoms such as sadness and anxiety. Cashews can be made a part of our daily diet to eliminate these problems.

Rich In Magnesium
Cashew nuts are also known to be rich in magnesium content, which not only helps in building stronger bones, but also helps balance out your moods.

Magnesium is known to be very crucial for maintaining a healthy nervous system. The magnesium content in cashews improves low blood sugar, which can sometimes cause depression and anxiety.

Healthy Fatty Acids
Cashews come packed with omega-3 fatty acids that are also very important to have a healthy brain function. The monounsaturated fats found in cashews boost the production of the antidepressant hormone, or serotonin, in the brain and help in promoting balanced moods, thereby keeping depression and anxiety at bay.

Vitamin B6 For A Relaxed Mental State
Along with Tryptophan, the vitamin B6 content found in cashews also helps in boosting the production of Serotonin in the brain. The combined effects of tryptophan and vitamin B6 allow the brain to be in a relaxed state and combat symptoms of depression and anxiety exceptionally. Vitamin B6 is also necessary for an improved brain function.