New studies into the link between hormones and mental disorders such as anxiety and depression suggest that women who have recently given birth are at greater risk for mood-based struggles, from minor mood swings to full-blown postpartum depression. A new study by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, Canada suggests a surprising way to improve the problem: blueberries. Taking blueberry supplements after giving birth may significantly drop a woman’s likelihood of developing postpartum depression or “prenatal blues.”
Key Takeaways:
- Post-birth nutritional deficiencies may be a cause for postpartum depression.
- Eating blueberries or blueberry supplements can significantly reduce the risk of developing postpartum depression.
- Blueberries have also been found to be beneficial in the treatment of PTSD and improvement of cognitive function in the elderly.
“Compounds found in the blueberry keep hormone fluctuations from causing too much damage to brain passageways.”