(^24) DAILY MIRROR TUESDAY 30.07.2019 DM1ST
HEALTH B
BY MICHELE O’CONNOR
DEPRESSION affects around 10% of the
population at any given time, according
to the Office for National Statistics, and is
now second only to high blood pressure
among the most common conditions
recorded by GPs.
But while bereavement, unemployment and
illness are common triggers for low mood,
experts say everyday activities – from what we
eat and drink to spending too much time online
- could also contribute to leaving you feeling
down. So what are the causes? And what can
you do about them?
Taking antibiotics
Certain groups of antibiotics, including
quinolones and penicillin, are linked to
depression, say scientists. A large Tel Aviv
University study of British patients found that
taking just one course of antibiotics can raise
the risk of depression and anxiety by around a
quarter. And taking between two and five
courses raises the risk by nearly half, they
reported in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
It’s thought that disrupting the balance of
bacteria in the gut can harm the way in which
the brain cells communicate.
BOOST YOUR MOOD: A major proportion of
your immune system actually lies in your gut in
the form of friendly bacteria, and antibiotics
can wipe these out – automatically weakening
your immune system. Restore the balance by
promoting the production of good bacteria
when taking antibiotics by eating live yogurt
(containing lactobacillus, for example), but
also fermented foods, such as sauerkraut,
kefir and miso.Your online activity
Addicted to your smartphone? Always online?
Swedish researchers found that women who
spend long hours in front of a computer screen
or on their phones (up to 150 hours a week)
reported more depression, possibly due to
sleep deprivation and lack of face-
to-face communication. And
a separate study by Univer-
sity of Michigan psycholo-
gist Ethan Kross found a
direct correlation between
time spent on social media
and feelings of dissatisfac-
tion, loneliness and isolation.
BOOST YOUR MOOD: Don’t
visit a social network when feeling sad or
dissatisfied with your present situation as,
chances are, it will only make you feel more
sorry for yourself and more depressed.
Consider deactivating your account temporarily
or unfollowing those who make you feel worse.
And pick up a bestseller instead. Those who
read books regularly are, on average, happier
and more satisfied with life, according to a
study by reading charity BookTrust.Surp
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Skipping the fish course
Large population studies have also confirmed a link between
low consumption of fish and an increased incidence of
depression. In a Norwegian study of almost 5,000 volunteers,
fish eaters reported having better mental wellbeing than
those who did not eat fish at all. It’s thought the poly-
unsaturated fatty acids in fish act as a mood stabiliser.
BOOST YOUR MOOD: Aim to eat oily fish – salmon,
mackerel, kippers, sardines and fresh tuna – twice a week.
Don’t like fish? Take a supplement instead. A four-year
Canadian double-blind randomised trial, involving 432
patients, found that omega-3 supplementation was as
effective as antidepressants for patients diagnosed with
depression. Try Healthspan High Strength Omega 3 (£7.95
for 120 capsules, healthspan.co.uk).The pill
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BOOST YOUR MOOD: If you
experienced (or have a family
anxiety or depression, speak
about alternative, non-horm
contraception options.AND
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