A new study from Harvard's famous McLean Hospital indicates that certain foods could have an antidepressant effect similar to that of prescription drugs such as Prozac and Celexa--at least if you're a rodent.
The results are very early--they have not even been validated in humans. Nobody should stop taking their Zoloft over this study. But they do hint that foods could have a potentially powerful effect on treating and preventing depression--basically a recapitulation of the old-school thought: "eat right, feel good."
"The things that we eat provide the raw fuel for our body," says Bill Carlezon, director of McLean's Behavioral Genetics lab, who led the study. "We know that neurotransmitters in the brain and the neurons and how they talk to each other is really important for how people act and feel so if you're getting low quality fuel, it shouldn't be surprising that people don't feel well. On the flipside, it shouldn't be surprising that these things can make you feel better."
Carlezon's methods were the same as those used to discover many treatments for depression. But keep in mind that these results have not been validated by the kind of rigorous testing that antidepressant pills have undergone. Often, what seems to work in animals eventually fails in humans. For instance, Merck (nyse: MRK - news - people ) and Pfizer (nyse: PFE - news - people ) spent years trying to develop drugs that worked on a mysterious brain chemical called substance P. Merck developed a drug that worked against nausea caused by chemotherapy, but it flopped as an antidepressant in humans.
What the researchers did was give rats two substances found in foods: Omega-3 fatty acids, a kind of fat that the body can't make enough of on its own, and uridine, one of the building blocks of DNA, which promotes a cell's energy-making process. The researchers gave a second group of rats a cocktail of antidepressants. The Omega-3 diet showed results after one month, and uridine was effective as long as the rats were fed enough of it. But when given both together, within ten days the rats who were eating the good foods behaved as well as those on medications.
The reasons lay in cell membranes. Dietary fats and cholesterols build up there, making the membrane rigid and impeding the fluid movement of chemicals within it. Omega-3s clear the buildup, allowing those chemicals to get where they're going easier. This is especially important in mitochondria, organs within cells that produce energy. Uridine fuels mitochondria, and paired with the lubricating effect of the Omega-3s, helps them make more energy more efficiently.
"Mitochondria are something we're going to hear about a lot more about in the future in terms of psychiatric diseases," Carlezon predicts.
The study has led Carlezon and his research team to ask new questions. Can uridine and Omega-3s together make people feel as well as giving them a standard antidepressant treatment? Is uridine safe for humans in large quantities? Should we be taking uridine supplements? It remains to be seen. For now, he says, "If people can get these things into their bodies more we will at least have them pointed in the right direction."
So what to eat? Foods high in both Omega-3s and uridine might be a good place to start. At the worst, you'll be eating a healthier diet. Omega-3s are clearly good for the heart.
Click here for the list of anti-depressant foods.
Additional reporting by Vanessa Gisquet
Molasses is mainly sucrose that didn't crystallize, as well as other sugars and nutrients that are unable to crystallize, including iron, vitamin B, phosphorous and calcium. Like sugar beets, it is high in uridine, one of the building blocks of DNA that may fight depression by promoting a cell's energy-making process. Researcher Bill Carlezon does not recommend running out and guzzling molasses for its antidepressant effects, however. Like most sweet things, use it in moderation. 
Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat that has many health benefits but that the body cannot make enough of. Omega-3s are widely known for their ability to help fight heart disease by lowering triglyceride levels and making blood less likely to clot, as well as having a protective effect against some forms of cancer. Now omega-3s show promise in fighting depression and stress. 
Sugar beets, which are processed for sugar, are high in a substance that's rarely found in food, called uridine. Uridine can increase cytidine levels in the brain, which are believed to have an affect on a brain chemical that regulates mood, dopamine. The sugar that comes from beets also contains uridine, but fresh beets supply a nutritional bonus--their green tops are an excellent source of beta-carotene, calcium, and iron. 
Soy products used to only be enjoyed by vegetarians and health food aficionados, but they are now widely consumed. As a plant-based protein, many soy products are packed with amino acids, low in saturated fat, and contain no cholesterol. Like salmon and walnuts, soy products are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Some studies have shown that tofu delivers more health benefits than soy milk, but both are useful for fighting a myriad of diseases and conditions, like prostate cancer, atherosclerosis, depression and maybe osteoporosis. 
Walnuts are more than just something to mix in brownie batter: they are a great source of alpha linolenic acid, one of the omega-3 fatty acids. Munch away--and help depression at the same time. Some studies show that as little as two grams of alpha linolenic acid per day--the amount in about an ounce of walnuts--is helpful in protecting the heart against disease too. 
.blueboxtxt { font-family : arial,verdanna,san-serif; font-size : 12px; color : #ffffff; text-decoration : none; font-weight : bold; padding : 3px;}.blueboxtxt:Hover { color : 336699;}< script language=JavaScript src="/scripts/popit.js">< /script>
