Last Updated on Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 300 million people are affected by clinical depression worldwide. Chronic or prolonged depression can have severe adverse effects on your mental, emotional, and physical health. Mental Health America—an organization that studies mental health issues in the United States—reports up to 70% of people who commit suicide have depression.
Despite its high prevalence, depression is a very treatable condition. In addition to talk therapy and antidepressant medication, some researchers believe certain products such as organic grapeseed oil may help individuals who are clinically depressed. As your diet has a profound impact on your long-term health, you are encouraged to be selective about the foods and products you buy. Organic, cold-pressed grapeseed oil may have specific health benefits that warrant your attention each time you visit the grocery store.
Before we delve into the antidepressant effects of grapeseed oil though, it may be best to learn a bit more about the condition that disrupts the lives of so many people around the globe. By understanding what depression is and how it is treated, you can better understand how using organic grapeseed oil can help people with symptoms of depression.
What Exactly is Depression
Depression is a serious mental health issue that negatively impacts the way you think, feel, and behave. It is characterized by intense feelings of sadness, low mood, lack of motivation, and loss of interest in things you used to enjoy. It is important to realize that depression is not the same as sadness. While sadness may leave after a day or two, depression has much stronger symptoms that may last for weeks, months, or years.
Other common symptoms of depression include a lack of focus, changes in appetite, sleep problems, low energy, strong feelings of hopelessness, strong feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of suicide. Symptoms of depression tend to interfere with your ability to function at home, school, or work. Depression can affect people of all races, cultures, genders, ages, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Women are two times as likely to develop depression than men. One in 6 people will experience depression at some point in their life.
Although the exact cause of depression is not known, researchers believe environmental, genetic, and biochemical factors play a major role in the onset of the condition. Many people who have been diagnosed with depression have different levels of oxidative stress and a relatively low amount of antioxidant enzymes in their body.
How is Depression Treated?
As mentioned earlier, depression can be effectively treated. The most common treatments include psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication, or a combination of both approaches. In very severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used. Approximately 80 to 90% of people with depression respond well to treatment. Almost all depression patients who receive treatment get at least some relief from their symptoms.
Despite the effectiveness of treatment though, less than half of the people with depression worldwide receive the treatment they need. In many countries, this figure is lower than 10%. Lack of time and limited financial resources are among the main reasons many people do not access care. Another important issue is the large number of adverse side effects that are associated with many antidepressant medications.
Today, researchers are investigating natural, plant-based compounds that do not have the negative side effects of chemical antidepressants or the high cost of therapy. Recent research on organic grapeseed oil is very encouraging in this regard. If you are affected by depression, it may be wise to buy organic, cold-pressed grapeseed oil to help with your symptoms in the long-term.
How Organic Grapeseed Oil May Help with Depression
In a 2017 study, researchers from the Medical Plans Research Center at the Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences examined the antidepressant effects of grapeseed oil in male mice using tail suspension, forced swim, and rotarod tests. Depression was induced by exposing the mice to stressful factors each day for 3 weeks, and putting them in situations where they could not escape. Animals that are exposed to chronic stress will try to find safety, but when they fail to escape, they gradually lose their hope to escape and become immobile. The mice were divided into groups and given saline solution, fluoxetine (a chemical antidepressant also known as Prozac or Sarafem), as well as doses of grapeseed oil (60, 120, and 240 mg/kg).
Grapeseed oil contains 60-120 mg of vitamin E, one of the most potent natural antioxidants. In the study, the administration of grapeseed oil caused antidepressant effects and increased the motor coordination of the mice. The researchers believe the antidepressant effects of grapeseed oil extract are due to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Past studies have already shown that vitamin E reduces the level of depression in women with periodic chest pain by decreasing oxidative stress markers.
Should You Buy Organic Grapeseed Oil for Depression?
Many health benefits have been linked with the high antioxidant content of grapeseed oil. This includes promising results regarding an all-natural treatment for depression. At present, more research is necessary to support and confirm these positive initial findings. While the research on depression is ongoing, you should know that grapeseed oil is also associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. It can also be used to improve the health and glow of your skin and hair.
If you would like to buy grapeseed oil online and improve your long-term health we recommend Golob’s grapeseed oil. It is cold-pressed, hexane free, and 100% organic.
References
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320872975_Study_of_antidepressant_effects_of_grape_seed_oil_in_male_mice_using_the_experimental_models_of_tail_suspension_test_and_forced_swim_test
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/facts-statistics-infographic#9
http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
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