Smash Depression

Episode 2 of the Smash Depression Podcast delves into the role of nutrition and eating habits in depression. There are now several ways to download or subscribe to the Smash Depression Podcast. It’s available at iTunes and also available at Stitcher. You can also stream this episode at the bottom of this post, or you can download directly right here. Download Episode 002 with guest Angela Dailey MP3 | 59 minutes | 28 MB In the opening segment I present my very simplified approach to healthy eating, recall my own up-and-down experiences on that front and share some tips for making healthy eating habits stick. That runs about 12 minutes. The second segment consists of an interview with Angela Dailey from MentalHealthFood.net. She is the author of Cooking to Cure: A Nutritional Approach to Anxiety and Depression. The interview begins around the 13:30 mark and runs around 40 minutes. Cooking to Cure: A nutritional approach to anxiety and depression Angela Dailey Our conversation touches on various topics, including: Why attention to nutrition is so important for depression sufferers. How fast food, junk food and processed foods contribute to poor nutrition. The “Western Diet” vs the “Mediterranean Diet”. Why it’s preferable to get needed nutrients from food rather than supplements or multi-vitamins. What foods you should be adding to do your diet to battle depression. The role of tryptophan in nutrition and depression. Why Omega-3s and “good fats” are so important. Why cooking and preparing your own meals is such a valuable, empowering habit. Whatever you’re a healthy eating newbie or expert, this interview is chockful of useful information and advice. If you like what you hear, or if you want to offer some constructive criticism, please leave a review at iTunes. Thanks. Music credit: “Vadodora Chill Mix” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under Creative Commons.

The first episode of the Smash Depression Podcast is online and available for download. Download Episode 001 with guest Susan Noonan MP3 | 47 minutes | 21 MB It’s also available on YouTube, if that’s more convenient. Or you can listen in the embedded player at the bottom of this post. The opening segment introduces the podcast, my reasons for starting a podcast about depression and my basic thinking about how to fight depression. That runs about 15 minutes. The second segment consists of an interview with Dr. Susan Noonan, author of Managing Your Depression: What You Can Do To Feel Better. It’s an excellent book, and our conversation was lively and informative. The interview begins around the 16:45 mark and runs 30 minutes. Managing Your Depression: What You Can Do to Feel Better Dr. Susan Noonan Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013 Our conversation touched on various topics, including: Why taking care of your physical health — especially exercise, diet and sleep — is so important for depression sufferers. How keeping structure in your life and sticking to daily routines can help with depression. The value of “defining your baseline” and staying connected to your inner sense of self. How writing and using worksheets can focus your efforts to fight depression. The recurring nature of depression, the danger of relapse, and the importance of following your anti-depression action plan and watching for warning signs even when you’re feeling strong. Putting together this first episode involved countless small hurdles, but I managed to plow through procrastination and impostor syndrome impulses and just get it done. Expect some flaws here and there, and expect subsequent episodes to get progressively more professional. Music credit: “Modulation of the Spirit” by Little Glass Men.