How Well Do You Know Your Gallbladder?

YOUR GALLBLADDER helps your immune system and your digestive system make hormones. It is a small pear-shaped organ connected to the liver and intestines and stores a digestive fluid called bile. When eating, the gallbladder releases bile through tubes called S-ducts that break down food. Even if the gallbladder is gone, bile can flow from the liver through the duct directly to the small intestine. Most people do well after the gallbladder is removed. With some changes in bowel habits, it clears up soon. Just be careful what you eat. GALL STONES are hardened fluid, another term for kidney stones, are small, non-canerous tumors, made of cholesterol and as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. They may go away on their own, but if they cause serious medical problems if they block bile ducts and cause a gallbladder attack. MEN AND WOMEN who get too much of the hormone, estrogen, can lead to too much cholesterol in the bile. Pregnancy and birth control pills can also play in the role. Others may have a high risk of gallstones if they are over 40 or a family history. GALLBLADDER ATTACKs usually happens in the morning on an empty stomach, in the middle of the day after a workout, or at night after a heavy meal. It passes when a gallstone moves away from the bile duct. The attacks can last more than a few hours and cause pain and problems like swelling or infection. POSSIBLE SIGNS OF A gallbladder attack are stomach pain or vomiting, yellowish eyes and skin, tea-colored urine or light-colored stools, or all of the above. A common symptom is stomach pain. You should call a doctor if it lasts more than 5 hours or is severe, and call immediately if there are any other symptoms. THE USUAL TREATMENT for gallbladder attacks is medication or surgery. Shockwaves are used if the gallstones won't move from the bile ducts; the doctor can tell you if your gallbladder needs to be removed. If your not healthy enough for surgery, your doctor can try medication to dissolve them or shockwave to break them up. But it doesn't work as well. Half of people treated with medication have gallstones again within 5 years. AFTER GALLSTONE SURGERY, you should try to avoid bran cereals and fried foods and leafy greens. A fatty diet is not good for you, especially if the gall bladder is removed. Stay away from greasy food, high-fat sauces and gravies. Some people have problems with caffeine (coffee, tea and sodas), and dairy. Fruits and vegetables, lean chicken or fish are some good choices to have. Source: www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/rm-quiz-gallbladder-knowledge.

How to Keep Your Kids' Eyes Healthy

What's Your Eye-Q? Kids learn their eyes, so healthy vision is critical for reading, writing, seeing the chalkboard, computer and play--more than seeing clearly up close and far away. Eyes also help distinguish between certain letters like "b" and "d". They also allow you to remember the details in what you read to the pictures in your mind. Subtle Symptoms If your child can't see well, they may have trouble learning. They might lose their place while reading and avoid reading. Their grades may fall. Signs of eye problems are always obvious, so some to watch for are they: Rubs their eyes alot, they squint or blink much of the time, they have lots of headaches due to eye strain, tilts their head to one side, they cover one eye to see, they hold books close to their face, they have trouble remembering what they read, and they have a short attention span. Problems You Can See Changes in the way a child sees or looks can be a hint that something's wrong. Look for bulging eyes, dropping eyelids, redness, eyes that don't work together, a gray or cloudy center, pus or crusty drainage, rapid movements--up/down-side to side, eyes constantly watering, white pupils taken with flash, or a child complains their eyes hurt or feel itchy. Early Detection is Key The most oommon eye problems in kids are blurred vision (refractable errors), crossed eyes (strabismus), and lazy eye (amblyopia). Regular eye exams can catch these early on before you or your child notices anything wrong. The longer the vision problem is left untreated, the more the brain will work to make up for it and may lead to future issues that are harder to treat. Is It Time to See An Eye Doctor? Children 3 and up can get a complete eye exam by an eye doctor once every 1 - 2 years. Many kids get a check up at school called a "vision screening." But it can't diagonse them. These tests can miss up to 60% of problems. Even newborns should get an eye assessment and get an assessment during each checkup after. Bring along a toy or stuffed animal to hold in your lap to distract from fussing with the equipment. What Happens During the Exam? Detailed eye exams usually take 2 hours and involves many test. Doctors might change things to get close enough yet not scare young children. The doctor checks the outside of eyes and watches how they follow a light or toy. He'll cover one eye to see how the other moves and focuses. The doctor will measure the near and distance vision with an eye chart and ask the child to read letters he can clearly see. Those who can't read can identify shapes instead. The doctor will also check for colorblindness, and in older kids, the doctor will ask older kids to look for numbers in colored dots--younger kids will look for shapes. Focusing on Vision A large device with a bunch of lenses on it is called a phoropter, pronounced "fer-rop-ter." Your child will peer through to look at the eye chart. The doctor switches from one lens to another asking the child which is clear or fuzzy. This is called refraction testing. It shows the power of eye lenses the child needs to see clearly. The doctor might use a lighted tool called a retinoscope to learn more about how your child's eyes focus. Shine a Light on Eye Problems The light provides an up-close look inside the child's eye. The doctor uses a flashlight-like tool called an ophthalmoscope to peek inside the eye. Older children get eye drops to widen, or dilate, the pupils 30 minutes before the test. You can prepare your child for this by telling her drops may sting and make things blurry a bit. The doctor may use another lighted tool called a slit lamp microscope to get a 3-D view. Correcting Kids' Vision If a child fails a vision exam, prescription eyewear may help. Kids can wear glasses at any age. Choose plastic frames with elastic straps if you have a toddler. Let your older child choose their own glasses, but make sure they have spring hinges to last longer. Most kids are not mature enough to clean or use contacts until after age 10. Vision correction surgery is not advised for growing kids. Kids with glasses need an eye exam every year. Treating Other Eye Problems If your child has a lazy eye, she'll get an eye patch or eye drops to blur her vision in one eye. This retrains the brain tosee with the weak one. Glasses don't always mae a differnece when used alone, but paired with exercise, they help kids with crossed eyes. Eye muscle surgery may straighten out eyes, but it won't improve their vision. Babies bron cloudy eye lenses (cataracts) may have surgery too. Glasses for Young Athletes Well-fitted, protective eyewear is a must for kids who wear glases and play sports to prevent vision threatening eye injuries. Everyday prescription glasses aren't good choices for gym, track, rink, or ball field. The eye doctor can help you choose what's right for your child. You'll want frames that are made of tough stuff that won't break like polycarbonate. Since kids are in the sun alot, ask about sunglasses to protect their eyes from harmful ultraviolet light. First Aid for Eyes Treat eye injuries right away. Don't let a child rub their eye as it can scratch the delicate surface. If there is something in the eye, flip the upper eyelid over eyelashes and ask your child to blink several times. The tears will help wash debris away. You can also flush the eye with clean water. If it doesn't come out, go to the ER. Get emergency care if something hits the eye, a chemical touches the eye, or the eye is bleeding. Source www.webmd.com/eye-heatlh/ss/slideshow-kids-healthy-eyes.

9 Ways to Eat Clean

Pick Whole Foods The basic idea to clean eating is to choose Foods close to the natural form as possible. Instead of boxed, bagged, or packaged foods--try fresh whole ones. Think whole turkey instead of frozen turkey meatballs; raw grapes instead of gummy snacks made with fruit juice. The Bonus: When you avoid highly processed foods like chips, cookies, and ready-to-eat meals, you skip loads of calories, sugar, salt and saturated fat. Eat More Whole Grains Refined carbohydrates, like white bread, pasta, and rice, lose their nutritional value during the manufacturing process. Trade them for whole wheat bread, pasta, or brown or white rice. Opt for other whole grains like oatmeal, popcorn, barley, or bulgur. The change will have a big impact as studies have shown a diet high in whole grains have a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and colon cancer. Load Up On Fruits and Veggies These natural foods are the two staples to clean eating. Some clean eaters say all your produce should be fresh. Others say you can have frozen or canned options as the next best thing since they have just as many nutrients. Read the label to make sure you're not getting extra sugar or salt. Choose whole fruits instead of juices, which have less fiber and more sugar. Aim get at least five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Watch Out for Salt and Added Sugar Clean foods are naturally low in salt and sugar, and adding goes against as natural as possible approach. Processed foods are major source you can slash the intake avoiding them. Read the food labels for added sweeteners and salts, even in food that looks healthy like yogurt and tomato sauce. Keep tabs on how much to add to foods and drinks. Flavor with spices and herbs instead. Skip Artificial Ingredients Artificial colors, sweeteners, preservatives, and other man-made ingredients have no place in a clean-eating diet. At the grocery store, read the food labels and avoid items with fake stuff. Sip Plenty of Water Instead of sugar-heavy soft drinks and juices, sip low-calorie beverages like water and herbal teas. Water curbs hunger and makes you feel fuller, fends off fatigue and gives more energy. Try infusing water with a slice of citrus or sprig of mint. Rethink Alcohol and Caffeine Some clean eaters cut alcohol and caffeine completely in order to drink lots of water. Others say it is alright to have alcohol or caffeine in moderation. Clean eater or not, experts recommend no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine (that's 3 - 5 [8-ounce cups of coffee] a day), and one serving of alcohol for women and 2 for men. Also skip the sugary extras and opt for plain tea or coffee; and avoid the sweet mixer for alcohol. Decide if You'll Go Organic Organic farmers use natural pesticides and avoid man-made ones. Some people say organic produce is the best way to eat clean. It is up to you to decide how important it will be in your diet. Shop at local farmers markets to find out what kinds of pesticides vendors use. Another tip is to use pesticides that end up on the outsides of fruits and veggies, so choose non-organic foods with skins you don't eat like avocados, corn and onions. Be Smart About Meat and Dairy Meat, dairy and eggs bought at the store may come from animals that get growth hormones and antibiotics. Clean eaters avoid them and choose organic or opt for local sources that raise animals humanely. Farmer's markets are good place to learn more about where meat and dairy come from. Seafood is labeled organic, so look for items low in mercury that use sustainable fishing. The cleanist approach to protein is to get the most from nuts, beans and legumes. Source www.webmd.com/diet/ss/sliedshow-how-to-eat-clean.

Food Frauds That Can Wreck Your Diet

Caesar Salad A small bowl can have almost 300-400 grams of fat just in the dressing. Food fix: Use 1 tablespoon of dressing and 2 tablespoons of tangy Parmesan cheese. Fresh Smoothies Packed with a whopping 80 grams of sugar with 350 calories or more, there is very little protein and no fresh fruit. Fruit concentrates are used instead of fresh fruit. Sorbet, ice cream, and sweeteners are no better than a milkshake. Food fix: Get a small cup and ask for fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt, milk, protein powder blended with protein for good nutrition. Energy Bars These are no more than enhanced candy bars with more calories ( 500+) and a higher price tag. The compact size leaves people unsatisfied--a few bites and they're gone. Food fix: Choose bars with 200 calories or less, some fiber, at least 5 grams of protein to help provide energy when sugar rush fades. Chicken Burrito PThese are packed with 1,000 and plenty of saturated fat, cheese, sour cream, and fat in a jumbo flour tortilla. A burrito as big as your forearm is too big a serving. Food fix: Share one or try a soft taco with fajita-style grilled meats and veggies on a corn tortilla with a tasty, low-calorie salsa. Sugar-Free Foods This is a problem if you think you have to order a large order of fries or big dessert. Just upsizing fries adds 300 calories to your meal. Eating more calories than you burn makes you gain weight. Food fix; watch your total calories. Enhanced Water Vitamins added to bottled water as well as sugar add up to as many as 125 calories. Food fix: Refrigerate tap water and to make more appealing, try packets of crystallized lemon adds flavor without added calories. 2% Milk This has more than half saturated fat of whole milk. Here's what's in a cup of milk: Whole milk--(3.25%) = 150 calories, 8 grams fat, 5 grams saturated fat. Reduced fat--(2%) = 130 calories, 5 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat. Skim (nonfat)--80 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat. Food fix: Like whole milk, blend with 2%, then with 1%, then skim, until you get used to the taste of nonfat milk. 2% Milk Latte This adds up to 580 calories, 15 grams saturated fat in a 20-ounce white chocolate mocha (which is more than a quarter pound burger with cheese.) Food fix: try a sweetened, frothy beverage for a diet splurge. Limit the damage with a nonfat (skim) milk--no whipped cream--to avoid the 130 calories and the 2/3 saturated fat. Turkey Hot Dogs The nutritional content varies according to the brand. It may say "less fat" on the label but it may have plenty of fat in each sausage. Food fix: compare nutrition labels for the lowest fat content. Some good choices available or eat a few times a year. Breakfast Muffins Altough better than donuts, they are still sugary cakes of refined flour. A store-bought muffin contains about 500 calories and 11 teaspoons of sugar. Food fix: Eat one that is no larger than 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Look for 100-calorie muffins at the store. Some brands can be a good source of whole grains and fiber. Low-Fat Granola This low-fat crunchy cereal has 10% fewer calories, but full of sugar. Low-fat label leads to overeating. A study at Cornell University found that people eat 49% more granola when they thought it was low-fat, going over 10% calorie savings. Food fix: Look for low-sugar, whole-grain cereal, sweetened with fresh fruit. Low-fat Yogurt This is a nutrition superstar that is rich in protein and calcium. Also, many yogurts have lots of added sugar. Some brands have 39 or more grams of fructose, sucrose, other sweetneners. Compare plain to fruited yogurt to see the difference in sugars that have naturally added milk and sugar on the nutrition label. Food fix: 6 ounces should be 90 - 130 calories and under 20 grams of sugar. Avoid sugary "fruit on the bottom" yogurts. Blend sweetened yogurt with plain, nonfat yogurt. Multi-Grain Products With more than one type of grain, products made from refined grains such as white flour have been stripped of fiber and many nutrients. Food fix: Look for "100% whole grain", like oats and wheat, as the first ingredients. Also choose brands with more fiber. Light Olive Oil Anything labeled "light" is enticing when watching your weight. Sometimes food may not be what you expect. LIght olive oil has the same calorie and fat content as other types. It is just has a lighter color and taste. Food fix: compare labels in the store for light foods when saving calories. Added Omega-3 Some yougurt, milk, eggs, cereal, and other foods have a boost of added omeaga-3. It may not contain omega-3 that is best for the heart--EPA or DHA. Or it may have EPA/DHA, but just smidgen, less than one bite of salmon. It may have ALA from vegetable sources, but not as potent or beneficial as DHA/EPA. Food fix: try 6 ounces salmon,which has 100 times more Omega-3 than a serving of fortified of yogurt. Vegetarians consider algae-derived Omega-3 as supplements. Iced Tea Antioxidants like iced tea don't make a health food: there is too much added sugar which turns a tall glass into a health hazard. A 20-ounce bottle has more than 200 calories and 59 grams of sugar. Food fix: skip "sweet tea" in favor of unsweetened iced tea. Try lemon or artificial sweeteners to add zing without the calories. Herbal or berry teas give a mildly sweet taste without the sugar. Microwave Popcorn "Snack" can be misleading on microwave popcorn. One brand packs 9 grams of fat in each "snack size" bag. Food fix: compare nutrition labels to get lower-fat popcorn that has no transfat. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese or low-fat salt spice blends for added flavor without a lot of fat. Iceberg Lettuce It may be big on crunch, but it has zero on vitamins and flavor. The boring taste leads people to use more dressing or toppings. Food fix: Add spinach or arugula to the mix. Cruble 2 tablespoons (100 calories) of blue cheese or feta on top. Toss with a splash of oil or vinegar to spruce flavor without the calories. Salty Toppings {rpcessed artichoke hearts, chickpeas, and olives are salt shockers lurking at the salad bar. Avoid getting too much by limiting anything that come s from a can. Pass up cured meats; instead choose beans or tuna, but not both. Food fix: try radishes, bell peppers, cucumbers, and other fresh vegetables that are low in sodium. Be sure to rinse beans to remove most of the salt. Coleslaw Cabbage is okay, but coleslaw can be a diet disaster. One popular restaurant has a small cup (4.5 ounce) with 260 calories and 21 grams of fat; 1/3 of people's daily limit due to the mayonnaise. Food fix: some place make a healthier coleslaw--just ask for nutrition information. If making at home, use a low-fat mayonnaise or nonfat yogurt. Banana Chips Deep-fried bananas have 145 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 8 grams of saturated fat--as much as a fast-food hamburger. Food fix: try a fresh banana, which is four times more food, 0 grams fat and 100 calories. Source www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-foods-that-can-wreck-you-diet.

Raising Fit Kids: Healthy Nutrition, Exercise, and Weight

For Kids, Healthy Habits Means Healthy Weights Kids don't need fad diets, radical weight-loss plans, or extreme workouts. With the right habits, you can keep a child a healthy weight, or help them slim down if they have extra pounds. Healthy Habit 1: Eat Dinner as a Family If you cook at home, you can control the menu and make it easier for everyone to eat healthy. Kids who eat on their own, especially in front of the TV, might not pay attention to what or how much they're eating, making it easier to overeat. If kids dislike certain foods, keep serving it--they may like it in time. Healthy Habit 2: Switch Off Screens Kids who spend too much time watching TV, playing video games, or zoning out with a smartphone, the odds are they are doing that instead of something healthy, like being active or getting enough sleep. Don't focus on what kids can't do, but instead on what they can. Make a list of such things like dance to music, play on a backyard playset, ride bikes, or help cook dinner--make it a habit for yourself as well to be a role model. Healthy Habit 3: Use Pedometers to Get Everyone Moving Inspire the whole family to get out as an incentive for kids to exercise. The idea is to give each family member a pedometer or activity tracker. Healthy Habit 4: Make Smart Sacks an Easy Choice Stock refrigerator with healthy snacking options to avoid kids eating unhealthy snacks. Keep portions of cut-up veggies, trail mix, or cheese and crackers as healthy snack options. Healthy Habit 5: Make Time for ZZZ's Kids who are tired, moody, or cranky, make for harder food choices like exercising and choosing water over soda. Bedtime makes it harder for teens as the body clock resets at puberty, making them more wired to stay up late. It is important to keep sleep a priority by encouraging everyone to stick to a bedtime routine, especially on weekends. Healthy Habit 6: Be Consistent Stick to a plan to encourage healthy habits about exercise and bedtime. Kids are most likely to accept rules: hesitation will make them argue and push back. Persistence helps them embrace healthy habits that will benefit for the rest of their lives. Source www.webmd.com/parenting/raising-fit-kids.

Vitamins and Minerals from A to Z

Vitamin A There are two main types of vitamin A. One comes from animal sources of food. People need this to help see at night, make red blood cells, and fight off infections. The other is in plant foods, which help prevent eye problems related to age-related macular degeneration, and to cells all over the body. To get vitamin A, eat orange veggies and fruits like sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, spinach and other greens, dairy products, and seafood, like shrimp and salmon. However, too much vitamin A can hurt the liver. Vitamin B-12 Eating this vitamin before heading out for a day at the gym in foods like hard-boiled eggs and cereals with this vitamin, helps the body to break down food and energy. Athletes and trainers take supplements before workouts, but don't use to boost success if you're getting enough in your meals. Vitamin C It is a myth that vitamin C doesn't prevent colds like over-the-counter remedies say. If you get symptoms, drink orange or grapefruit juices to stay hydrated and feel better soon. The body needs vitamin C to help bones, skin, and muscles to grow. You can get plenty of vitamin C from bell peppers, papaya, strawberries, broccoli, cantaloupe, leafy greens, and other fruits and veggies. Calcium Calcium, when mixed with sand, helps harden concrete. The strength creates a building block for bones and teeth. This is key to making muscles, like the heart, move. You can get calcium from milk, cheese, yogurt, other dairy foods, green vegetables like kale and broccoli. How much is needed depends on your age and sex. You should check with your doctor about taking supplements. Vitamin D Like calcium, vitamin D keeps bones strong and nerves carrying messages. It plays an important role in fighting germs. However, watch your time in the sun (10 - 15 minutes on clear days without sunscreen), but is the best source of vitamin D. You can also eat fish, like salmon, tuna, and mackerel. There is a little vitamin D in egg yolks, and you can get milk and orange juice with added vitamin D. Vitamin E Also called an antioxidant, vitamin E protects cells from damage caused by cigarette smoke, pollution, sunlight and more. Vitamin E helps cells talk to each other as well as keep the blood moving. Sunflower seeds and nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, and peanuts are good sources of vitamin E. If you have an allergy to these foods, vegetable oils like safflower and sunflower, spinach and broccoli have vitamin E too. Folic Acid If you're pregnant, folic acid is a must as it helps make DNA and prevent spina bifida and other birth defects. Asparagus, Brussel sprouts, dark leafy greens, oranges, orange juice, legumes--like beans, peas, and lentils--are rich in folic acid. The doctor can suggest supplements too. Vitamin K This vitamin is important for blood clotting and healthy bones. However, people taking Warfarin, a blood thinner, should be careful what they eat as vitamin K may react badly to the drug. A serving of leafy greens like spinach, kale, and broccoli can give you plenty of vitamin K for the day. Also, the Japanese dish--Natto, made from fermented soybeans--has even more. Iron If you have low levels of iron, the body doesn't make enough healthy red blood cells, and with them, you can't get enough oxygen to the tissues. Pregnant women and those with a heavy menstrual cycle are more likely to have anemia--a medical name for not enough iron in the blood. To keep your iron levels up, eat beans, lentils, liver, oysters and spinach. Dark chocolate with 45% cacao has iron. Magnesium This mineral plays a role in making muscles squeeze and keeps the heart beating. It also helps control blood sugar and blood pressure, makes proteins and DNA, and turns food into energy. Foods like almonds, cashews, spinach, soybeans, avocado, and whole grains contain magnesium. Potassium Bananas as well as leafy greens, are a good source of potassium, which helps your blood pressure to stay within a normal range, and helps your kidneys work. If your levels are too low or too high, it can make your heart and nervous system shut down. You should watch your salt intake as the body needs the right aomount of sodium and potassium. Eat raw cantaloupe, carrots and tomatoes to get potassium. Zinc Without zinc, you can't taste or smell, and your immune system needs it to help cuts, scrapes, and sores to heal. It can also help your sight as you age. While you can get zinc from plant sources like seasame and pumpkin seeds, chick peas (garbanzo beans), lentils, and cashews; it is easier for your body to absorb zinc if you get it from animal sources like oysters, beef, crab, lobster, and pork. Source www.webmd.com/vitamin-and-supplements/ss/slideshow-vitamins-minerals-overview.

Foods That Help Fight Depression

TurkeyBrazil Nuts Snacks that are rich in selenium help protect the body from tiny, damaging particles--or free radicals. One study--in young people do not have enough of this nutrient in their diets, they are more likely to be depressed. Researchers are not sure if the low selenium causes depression. One Brazil nut has almost half the daily requirement of the mineral; be careful to limit how much you eat. Other foods with selenium are brown rice, lean beef, sunflower seeds, and seafood. Carrots Carrots are full of beta-carotene, but you can also get it from pumpkin, spinach, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe. Studies have linked beta-carotene to lower levels of depression. There isn't enough evidence to be sure it prevents the disorder, but it can't hurt to get more in your diet. Clams and Mussels These are a good source of the vitamin B-12. Some studies say people with low levels of B-12 are more likely to have depression. A lack of B-12 causes a shortage of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM); a mineral the brain needs to process other chemicals that affect mood. Other foods with B-12 are lean beef, milk and eggs. Coffee A jolt of caffeine can be a pick-me-up to help with motivation. If you have post-partum depression or a panic disorder, however, some studies say coffee may make the symptoms worse. Other researchers say a cup of joe can lower the risk of getting depression, but they are not sure why. Leafy Greens Leafy greens are packed with folate that tell your brain cells where to work well to protect against depression. Food manufacturers in the U.S. add the vitamin B-9 to enriched grains like pasta and rice. You can also get them from lentils, lima beans, and asparagus. Salmon Salmon and other fish like herring and tuna are high in poly-unsaturated fats. Researchers say it helps fight depression. The type of fat--Omega-3 fatty acids--help the brain cells use chemicals that can affect the mood. A few studies show people who weren't depressed had higher levels of omega-3's than those with the mood disorder. Milk A good source of vitamin D, low levels of vitamin D in the body sometimes cause depression. A Norwegian study found that people who took vitamin D supplements were less depressed a year later than those who didn't. If you don't like milk, you can boost vitamin D in your diet with enriched cereals and juices and canned fish. Caution: Alcohol Although it might take the edge of your worries, or make you feel more social, the best time to drink wine, beer or mixed drinks is in moderation. While they may make you feel better in the moment, heavy drinking makes depression symptoms worse over time because alcohol makes the brain less active. It also makes anti-depressant medications less effective. Caution: Junk Food It may be fast and filling, cut processed foods can be bad news for your mood. Scientists have studied diets that are high in sugar--simple carbohydrates and fatty foods--can affect how you feel. Many have found a link between unhealthy eats and depression. The best bet is to eat a well-balanced diet plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains or lean protein. Source www.webmd.com/depression/ss/slideshow-foods-fight-depression.