#1. Reduce refined sugar. Completely eliminate or reduce intake of pasta, bread, cookies, candy, high sugar fruit juices/sodas or anything with high glycemic loads. My only sugar intake now comes from fruit, honey and stevia sweetener added to drinks. I've found that fruits, despite some being high in sugar, is still a better choice than processed sugars.

#2. Eat a lot of fruit & vegetables, both raw, fermented and cooked. Eat a wide variety of them. Making smoothies in a blender is a good way to consume them. You can cover up the taste of raw vegetables with fruit of your choice, or honey.

Some good examples are squash, zucchini, carrots, kale, spinach, broccoli, blueberries, strawberries, apples, grapes, pomegranates, cabbage, peppers, eggplant, ginger root, sweet potatoes, oranges, peaches, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapples, etc. I try to eat every kind of plant food, and it has worked for me.

#3. Choose your grains wisely.
I think everyone reacts in their own way to different types of grains. For me, I can't tolerate wheat very well. Most wheat flour has a high glycemic load. Buckwheat has become the staple of the grain part of my diet. Coincidentally, buckwheat has a low glycemic index.

#4. Consume healthy fats.
Our brain consists of fat, so consuming healthy fat is necessary. Some healthy fat sources include wild salmon, olives & unheated olive oil (add a small spoonful to water and drink), avocados, walnuts, almonds, coconuts, cashews, sunflower/pumpkin/flax seeds.

#5. Drink water or herbal tea instead of soda or sugary drinks. Chamomile, white tea, gingko, ginger tea and licorice are just some examples of herbs that purportedly calm your mood.

#6. Exercise and get adequate amount of daily sunlight.
(This isn't a food tip, but it is also important in conjunction with diet. You absorb some vitamins from the sun that may be lacking in your diet, and exercise helps regulate hormones that control your mood.)

Thank you Mia and Ms. Rrio. Those are also great ideas. The diet is very important. I do watch what I eat very closely.
Ms. Rrio, thank you for reminding me about one of the things that helps me when nothing else does and that is reading the Bible. I noticed in one of your previous posts that you were reading the Book of Acts. Reading the Bible and listening to uplifting gospel type music is very helpful for depression. It also brings a certain kind of peace that cannot be found anywhere else. Sometimes when I can't sleep I read the Bible or listen to that show on T.V. Called Shepards chapel or something where they read aloud from the Bible. This always brings a calm feeling to me and I am able to fall right to sleep. I used to hate religion and did not want anything to do with those things after being raised in a strict religious household. But after I had liver and kidney failure in 2009 I had a near death experience that changed my life. All of my strength comes from this experience. I am so grateful that I got the chance to meet Jesus and know of his love for all of us. I am sorry if this is too weird or religious for some. But this is a very good way to help with depression and any problems we are faced with in life. I know for a fact friends that we have a loving god who watches over us and loves us. Really adores us. I would encourage any of you who do not have a relationship with The Lord to get one. You will see your life much improved. Sorry again if this is preachy. I felt it was important to share that with you all.
Love,
Brain

So on a different note. I got out of the house again today. Went to Home Depot and got the soil and plants I need for my projects. Have any of you guys ever been to a store called Hobby Lobby? I loved this store. I had a great time in there finding all kinds of things to put in my little plant worlds. I am going to make one of these for my mom for Mothers Day. She appreciates my art work. Of course, she is my mom but I think my work is really good.
I think it can definately be counted as exercise with all the walking I did today. So that is two days now of walking. I am sore but am going to keep it up.
I found the cutest things at hobby lobby. They have a mermaid there and these two sea horses that I am in love with. I am hoping I can catch them on sale or something. I NEED this mermaid and seahorses! lol!
I collect owls and found the neatest little one to put in my mediation world. He is perfect.
I have the bishop coming over tonight. We still have not gotten the report from the neuropsychological evaluation. We were supposed to have it by now. So we don't know what steps to take until we get the report but I guess he wants to just check on me anyway. Which I appreciate. I am so grateful for his help.
Will report in on the results from the neuropsychological testing ASAP.
All in all doing better today. Hope you are all having a good day! Hang in there everyone.
Love,
Brain

I love that store also.About your mermaids you want, you can get them on sale if you go to their website and it has a coupon link of 40% off anything that is original price.Print a few coupons off and you and when you and your mom go back to Hobby Lobby you both use the coupon on your mermaids.That's what me and my mom did a few times lol