Depression and anxiety affect millions of people in the United States, and is a common complaint of patients seen in doctor’s offices as people look for ways to ease their symptoms. As many of my patients seek to find a more holistic solution to their depression, I decided to focus on this topic for one of my evening lectures. In Naturopathic Medicine, a patient’s diet is one of the first targets for improvement when addressing chronic complaints. I had a rough idea of what I would include in the lecture: Decrease sugars, refined carbohydrates, alcohol and caffeine. Increase fruits and vegetables. Lower your toxic burden by eating organic foods. All good information, but I needed some statistics and scientific papers as hard references. Being a perpetual procrastinator, I waited until the night before the lecture to write out the notes. At about 10 pm, I stumbled upon an abundance of scholarly articles connecting depression and pesticides – they were disturbing bedtime stories, indeed.

Now, I’ve always know there were about 2,000 reasons to NOT want pesticides on my food, but what I found out was alarming – hundreds of reputable studies reported connections between multiple classes of pesticides and depression. Study after study revealed an increased instance of fatigue, depression, and physical symptoms caused by an abnormally-functioning nervous system in people exposed to pesticides. Most of these studies were done on people who, by profession or geography, were exposed to pesticides in more concentrated amounts than the average person. However, there was also abundant research on humans not directly involved with agricultural use of pesticides showing negative effects from exposure as well. The literature is out there, and openly available to anyone who wishes to read the research.

It is no surprise that chemicals intended to thwart critical biological processes in insects will affect those same processes in humans. Many pesticides work by stopping enzymes that regulate transmission of nerve impulses – affecting both brain and muscle function. Even in relatively small doses, exposure to these toxins over time can have profound effects on the way our systems operate.

Food (if we are fortunate) is the ONE thing we take every single day. There is no pill, exercise, vitamin, or remedy we think of so often, or take more regularly, than food. If we are constantly taking in foods that are doused with pesticides and grown in pesticide-laden soil, even the most nutritious food choices can become toxic. Our bodies only have what we give them to work with – to utilize, build, store and repair.

Food choices affect the function of both body and mind. If you are suffering from anxiety, depression, and fatigue, see your doctor for a physical exam and lab work. Once you are cleared to start your journey to wellness, give yourself the best tools for recovery with nutrient-rich foods free of chemicals and toxins. A quick internet search can help to decipher the most important foods to buy organicallygrown.  Your mind will most certainly thank you.

A note about the author: Sarah Zambarano, RN, ND is the owner and Naturopathic Physician at Bodhi Naturoathic in Old Lyme, Connecticut. She provides integrative, individualized health care to patients of all ages. Prior to getting her degree in Naturopathic Medicine, Dr. Z was a nurse for 13 years. During her times of volunteer work, she realized that true medicine needs to encompass the entire life and spirit of the patient. She believes that healing includes more than just medicines and machines – it is laughter, play, quality moments, understanding the body’s wisdom, listening to the patient, providing nutrients and safe environments, removing obstacles to healing, looking to the planet’s gifts, and embracing the individuality of each person. Contact information for Dr. Zambarano can be found by visiting http://www.BodhiNaturopathic.com.  
Source: http://www.occupymonsanto360.org