Orange peels: the future antidepressants?


One of my fond childhood memory was the smell of orange peel in the fire urn during cold winter evenings at my grandfather’s house.  I think it still triggers dopamine release for me.
Last week, I learned about an over the counter medication for venous diseases; it is diosmin, a phytonutrients, concentrated from orange peels.  I did some cursory search on the internet and found out that diosmin and other plant source flavonoids may also have potential use in managing diabetic retinopathy and mood disorders.

My thoughts are that we don’t all have enough time for the scientist to figure out which phytonutrients does what; perhaps all these findings are in support of the notion of:
Eat Well Plate
A healthy diet includes at least 400 grams of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit per day, excluding potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava and other starchy roots.   (WHO Nutrition Fact Sheet).   

The following are more evidence supportive of more vegetables in our diet as a way to be happier.

Mental health and physical health are fundamentally linked. People living with a serious mental illness are at higher risk of experiencing a wide range of chronic physical conditions. Conversely, people living with chronic physical health conditions experience depression and anxiety at twice the rate of the general population. (CAMH, December, 2008)

SMILES’ was a 12-week, parallel-group, single blind, randomized controlled trial of an adjunctive dietary intervention in the treatment of moderate to severe depression.  ... MADRS score <10, was achieved for 32.3% (n = 10) and 8.0% (n = 2) of the intervention and control groups, respectively

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