Are Potatoes Natural Prozac?

I was intrigued when while browsing the web one day  I came across a page written by someone who reckoned potatoes were better than prozac for combating depression. Nobody in my family has ever suffered from depression but I have known plenty of people whose lives have been blighted by it, both as friends and colleagues. So having read the article and found it offered no answers except an opportunity to buy a book on the topic I was left with my curiosity aroused. Being something of an autodidact (someone who learns better alone at their own speed rather than in a formal educational environment I set about finding out more. Can potatoes really help people who suffer from depression?

Not being a doctor I am not going to answer that but instead present information to help you make up your own mind. Abiding by the founding principle of medicine however, first do no harm, I will say that eating potatoes never hurt anyone so as long as you are not giving up any prescribed medication you ought to be taking, and you don’t have a deep seated detestation of potatoes there is nothing to be lost in trying the advice I pass on here.
 
Scientifically, the potato can create an insulin response which affects the movement of an amino acid called tryptophan from the blood into the brain. Our bodies use tryptophan to make serotonin. According to medical research Serotonin is the brain chemical that makes us feel relaxed and happy. It also helps to control irrational impulses.

Amino acids are made by the body when food containing proteins (meats, cheese, eggs,  etc.) is broken down by the digestive system and the liver. From there they go into our blood stream and eventually to the brain as “brain food”. Tryptophan is not a primary amino acid and is often elbowed aside in the race to the brain.

Certain foods such as sugars and starches cause an insulin reaction. Insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, takes the stronger amino acids to the muscles to be used as muscle fuel. Tryptophan for very complex reasons is left behind to be used as fuel for the serotonin factory. As the serotonin factory burns its fuel supply your serotonin levels rise.

So if you are someone who is affected by depression, try to eat a high protein food protein and then about 3 – 4  hours later have something to raise your insulin level. A potato is a healthier choice than a Mars Bar. What’s more, with the potato you will get a slow, steady release of the carbo hydrates that prompt the insulin production whereas something heavy on refined (simple) carbs will provoke the well known sugar rush that can make some people hyperactive and in certain cases even be life threatening.

This technique may been simple but don’t get the idea that by eating really huge amounts of proteins and then a giant serving of mashed potatoes three hours later you will feel as chilled out as if you had smoked a really good spliff. More is not better, ever wondered why so many seriously overweight people develop diabetes? Keep your portions modest in size. Overloading our bodies with narcotic drugs, alcohol, food or exercise is never a good idea just as overloading our minds with too much work, stress, obsessive game playing and so on will result in mental problems (very possibly depession.)

Bigger protein amounts and larger potatoes are not the goal. A serotonin hit that is too much may cause you nightmares, and cause you to wake up with the symptoms of a booze hangover. Another temptation according to my reading, is to think eating raw potatoes will giver higher serotonin levels. Don’t make this mistake, raw potato is very hard to digest, mildly toxic and doesn’t taste that good. Make sure your potatoes are cooked properly.

And finally, don’t expect miracles. We are all individuals and just as people can respond differently to medication so diet based therapies can produce different results. Depression is a strange things, some people are diagnosed as depressed when they are just poor sleepers and so are perpetually tired. Others may have a melancholy or introverted personality. It could be that serotonin is not a factor and so eating to manipulate insulin levels and amino acid transmission are not going to be the solution. But as I said, provided you are not allergic to potatoes, eating a few is not going to hurt.