Natural Ways to Beat Depression

"I think it would be fair to say that individuals with major depressive disorders should be taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, unless there's a particular medical reason why they shouldn't—of which there are very few," says Dr. Freeman.

Moving depression out of your life

You probably know about "runner's high"—the great feeling people get when they exercise vigorously. But, you're thinking, you aren't a gym rat or one of those well-toned runners you see burning up the roads. And putting out such effort may seem impossible, especially when you feel depressed.

You can achieve the same positive mood effects from far-less-strenuous physical activities. Adding mild movement to a sedentary life can reduce your depressive symptoms even if your fitness level remains unchanged. What's more, physical activity lessens depression regardless of your pre-existing health conditions, and may insulate you against future depressive symptoms.

"Exercise has been shown to give us a boost of energy that helps us feel motivated and do things we might not want to do if we're feeling down and depressed," says Teresa M. Edenfield, PhD, a researcher and clinical associate in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC.

That effect works for people with various levels of depression, from mild to major. "For people with very severe symptoms, exercise might not be enough. They might need something like medication or therapy," Dr. Edenfield says, noting that medical care, psychological assessment, and safety monitoring are imperative. "We always caution people to seek professional help…to think about this as a combination approach."

Researchers are currently studying how, why, and for whom exercise works its antidepressant charm. Dr. Edenfield helped review a number of studies that supported using exercise to alleviate depression—either as an alternative to other types of treatment or in addition to them.

One notable recent study took 153 women and 49 men, all diagnosed with major depression, and assigned them to either supervised group exercise, home-based exercise, a common antidepressant medication, or a placebo ("sugar") pill. After four months, patients in the exercise-only groups showed just about the same relief from depression (40% to 45% remission) as did those taking medication.

Folate makes a difference

Depressed people often have low levels of folate, a B vitamin important for cell growth. Adult women should take in 400 micrograms (mcg) of folate daily, with pregnant women needing 600 mcg and nursing mothers, 500 mcg. Yet even if these amounts are consumed, some of our bodies don't absorb or use folate well, resulting in deficiencies.