[cbognet]

I studied neuroscience in college, so have tried to stay up to date on what we know about the biology of things like anxiety and depression (surprisingly, we know very little for sure). The "chemical imbalance" hypothesis that I was taught in college and that is widely accepted is increasingly being challenged. For example, is it possible that depression is a symptom of a larger inflammatory problem vs. its own disease? Inflammation caused by stress or undiagnosed food or environmental allergies? (People with allergies have a higher risk of depression and suicide, especially in the spring. Allergy shots can help.)

In terms of non-pharmaceuticals, here's what seems to be effective: B Complex vitamins (make sure to get methylcobalamin form of b12 included not cyano), sleep, meditation, exercise, social support, omega 3, vitamin D, probiotics (refrigerated, not gummy), not taking NSAIDS, not taking proton pump inhibitors or antacids, low carb/very little sugar.

[AstralStorm]

Please provide sources for the more interesting / outrageous claims. Especially meditation, probiotics, PPIs link to depression or the specific low sugar diet. Good quality controlled trials on more than two handfuls of people.