Depression, one of the most prevalent "mental disorders," has been on the rise and poses a growing threat to public health. This comprehensive review aims to shed light on the crucial role of individual nutrients in our diet and how deficiencies in these nutrients can increase the risk of depression. 

Protein, B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids are all essential for optimal brain and nervous system function, and their deficiencies can contribute to the development of depressive symptoms. However, it's important to note that diet alone is not the sole determinant of depression. Other factors like physical activity, sleep, stress management, and social support also play a vital role in maintaining mental well-being.

The sad fact is when we search for "mental illness solutions" online we receive non-scientific symptoms such as those found on websites like MayoClinic.org which many people follow and trust:

Table Of Contents

• Feeling sad or down
• Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
• Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
• Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping
• Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations Inability to cope with daily problems or stress
• Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people
• Problems with alcohol or drug use
• Major changes in eating habits Sex drive changes
• Excessive anger, hostility or violence
• Talking too fast
• Suicidal ideation
• You have a sharper, more creative imagination than others (also called delusions)

If you shows more than a few of these (especially having an imagination) then you are labelled "mentally ill."  The problem is they do not link the physical symptoms to the "mental" problems because that's what the reductionist (reducing the body to parts) does for quick 10 minute visits where pills and surgeries and prescribed.

What is their cause according to Mayoclinic and many other sources?  Very slim and they stick to separated body parts such as:  

• Inherited traits. Mental illness is more common in people whose blood relatives also have a mental illness. Certain genes may increase your risk of developing a mental illness, and your life situation may trigger it. Environmental exposures before birth.
• Exposure to environmental stressors, inflammatory conditions, toxins, alcohol or drugs while in the womb can sometimes be linked to mental illness.
• Brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals that carry signals to other parts of your brain and body. When the neural networks involving these chemicals are impaired, the function of nerve receptors and nerve systems change, leading to depression and other emotional disorders.

The problem here is many websites stick to the separation of brain and other parts of the body from the entire body, and this is called Cartesian thinking from 600 years ago.  The reality is the brain is not separated from the body, and they mention little to nothing regarding the role of the llink between the body and the brain which is the gut-brain axis and how other systems of the body affect the mind.  They often speak about these concepts in a very vague way.

For the past 50 years, the treatment of depression (and many other label conditions affecting "the mind") has been less than ideal, despite the availability of various treatment options.  Still the public opinion on virtually any "mental illness" is that you can simply "shake it off," or "pray," or "think positive" and sadly many therapists preach similar so-called treatments.

These options include pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and non-pharmacological somatic treatments. Depression is a complex disorder that involves various biological mechanisms, including inflammation, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, dysfunction of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, and endothelial dysfunction. Recent neurobiological studies have shown that depression is associated with cortical and limbic neuronal atrophy, as well as disrupted connectivity and functioning of neural networks. These changes are caused by structural, functional, and neurochemical deficits, with particular relevance to problems related to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate function. One of the most widely accepted hypotheses regarding the pathophysiology of depression suggests that there is a correlation between depression and low levels of monoamine neurotransmitters.

As a result, there is a growing emphasis on the importance of optimizing cellular function, ridding the body of chronic toxicity to support proper brain function and enhance the effectiveness of monoamine-based drug therapy in treating depressive disorders.

Prevalence of "Mental Illness" In Japan Much Lower

The incidence of CMD in Japan has remained relatively steady over the past decade. However, there has been a notable increase in the utilization of mental health services, ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 times higher in the past 10-15 years. This suggests that the surge in mental health service usage is contributing to the growing number of patients seeking help. In terms of a cross-national perspective, the prevalence rate of CMD (common mental disorders) in Japan is significantly lower compared to rates observed in the USA and Europe. Similarly, the 12-month prevalence of mental health service utilization in Japan is also lower when compared to other high-income countries. Mental health epidemiology has shed light on the fact that the prevalence of CMD remains unchanged worldwide, despite the rise in mental health service utilization in high-income nations. This highlights the urgent need to address the existing gap in treatment quality and prevention measures for CMD in the future. By focusing on improving the quality of care and implementing effective prevention strategies, we can bridge this gap and ensure that individuals with CMD receive the support they need. It is crucial to prioritize mental health and work towards a future where everyone has access to high-quality treatment and prevention services.

This is the confusing propaganda that misleads us all

There's no such thing as a "balanced diet" & nutrition isn't merely food. Why is that? It's because we're all individuals. Orthomolecular nutrition is the individualized analysis application of the substances within the food which our bodies often do not obtain enough of and are often blocked by antagonists.

Canada's health care spending surpasses that of Japan and the average universal access nation by a significant margin. In 2009, Canada's health expenditures (adjusted for age) were 87% higher than Japan's and 26% higher than the average universal access nation. Despite this, Canada's health care system does not perform as well as one would expect given the high level of investment. In fact, when compared to other developed nations with universal access, Canada's health care spending as a percentage of GDP was the highest in 2009.