(Phytochemicals in) Foods to Prevent and Treat diseases - Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive)

Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) is a condition of mood swing not driven by the events of life, but as a result of abnormal gene or certain brain circuits could underlie bipolar of that can impair daily functioning and normal functioning at work.

Types of food to prevent and treat Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive)
1. Coldwater fish
The highest concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids are found in coldwater fish, such as sardines, salmon, herring, tuna, cod, etc..  In the review of the significant findings from meta-analyses of omega-3 in the treatment of bipolar depression and bipolar mania, showed that the meta-analytic findings provide strong evidence that bipolar depressive symptoms may be improved by adjunctive use of omega-3. The evidence, however, does not support its adjunctive use in attenuating mania(1). Other foods contain high amounts of Omega 3 fatty acid including flax seed, nuts, etc.

2. Cherries
Melatonin, the chemical that controls the body’s internal clock to regulate sleep is found abundantly in Cherries. In the study of The role of melatonin in post-partum psychosis and depression associated with bipolar disorder, researchers found that genetic- and environmental-induced decrease in the levels of melatonin in BD contributes to post-partum disorders. Melatonin may also have some efficacy in the treatment of BD, especially in decreasing the side-effects associated with lithium and the neuroleptics. It is proposed that the optimization of melatonin levels, perhaps in conjunction with optimized vitamin D3 level, would decrease post-partum psychosis and depression associated with BD(2). Other foods contain high amounts of melatonin, including, walnut, sunflower seed, banana, celery, etc.

3. Mineral water
Mineral water, a major source of  lithium have found to be effective in preventing and treating Bipolar disorder. In the study to 1. investigate the efficacy of lithium treatment in the prevention of relapse in recurrent mood disorders. 2. examine the effect of lithium treatment on consumers' general health and social functioning, its acceptability to consumers, and the side-effects of treatment. 3. investigate the hypothesis that lithium has a specific effect in reducing the incidence of suicide and deliberate self-harm in persons with mood disorders, found that lithium is an efficacious maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder. In unipolar disorder the evidence of efficacy is less robust. This review does not cover the relative efficacy of lithium compared with other maintenance treatments, which is at present unclear. There is no definitive evidence from this review as to whether or not lithium has an anti-suicidal effect(3).
Other foods contain lithium including grain, lean beef, eggs, etc.

4. Etc.


Sources(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21903025.1
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20707614
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11687035