How can the McDougall program help with my depression?

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[BrianBeardenusa]

Dr. McDougall thank you. Said this in the 1970s. Saying it today. You still the man.

[ellen]

I felt the most depressed when I slept 2-5 hours/night, which I did during a period when I ate by the "maximum weight loss"-mcdougall method. It was waaay to low of a calorie density for me. I didn't connect the dots until it was too late and I had gotten a lot of problems with my psyche. I think that it impacted me way after the period of sleep deprivation durated. And that it still does. I also have huge under eye hollows now.
I thought I'd write this so that others don't make the same mistake as I did. I'm only 28 but I feel so old now.

[lindaterzich]

Wait! Give us the longevity study of hours of sleep please! This is news to me the 6-7 hours and longevity.

[Olibelus]

I've been sleeping a lot (over 8-9 hours a night) and feeling really down lately. I'll try actually sleeping less (around 6-7) and seeing if it helps. :)

[johnhw]

Much new for me, a chronic insomniac . I've often figured that if all the dire warnings about insufficient sleep I've read/heard about was true, I would have been dead 50 years ago.

[cherlgolja]

I was a runner for over 40 years God I miss it so much ! now I catrike trail bike 🥰 I’m 70 years young 😎

[misterE-]

I think an overlooked reason why the McDougall diet helps with depression is by cutting out the meat, nuts and vegetable-oils, which are the main source of omega-6. Too much omega-6 causes inflammation of the brain and exacerbates not only depression, but all kinds of other mental illnesses as well.

[dj-feck]

Sleeping LESS than 7 or 8 hours would make me depressed. I go to bed between 11-12 and get up between 9-10 and I have zero depression.

[Strangepete]

What if you are a large very active athlete? Would that adult also only need 7 hours of sleep considering their athletic daily endeavors causing (I would assume) the need for considerably extra recovery and rest?

It would appear to me quote obvious that the amount of sleep a given individual needs is much like the amount of calories a person needs. Depends on lifestyle, age, weight and activity levels.

[MJ-ibiq]

6-7 if your a healthy adult seems reasonable. I need more when I gain weight, when I’m not at my best, so there are other things that need to change.

[AD-jjhd]

Ive done a sleep course and talked to a sleep doctor and Ive never heard of sleep deprivation being good except to help people to know whrn they are tired and to associate the bed with sleep and only sleep. I need about 7.5 hours each night. I think its more individual then people think, I wonder if the reduction in sleep had more to do with other changes like using their time more appropriately then that reduced their depression

[gottfrei]

Sleeping less is working so well for me that I'm starting to suspect I'm bipolar🤣

[seamuswarren]

Can we set a bedtime alarm for 10.30pm maybe? If we sleep well, we might awake naturally with no need for an alarm clock.

[gottfrei]

I wonder if high protein soy products also block tryptophan absorption, or is it just animal protein?

[Ytjn]

I tried the hclf diet and I felt manic

[Caroline-chats]

Bonjour Dr McDougall. Je souffre de dépression chronique depuis + de 20 ans. J'ai pris des antidépresseurs pendant 10 ans, que j'ai remplacé avantageusement par du 5HTP 200mg par jour.
En outre, les compléments de mélatonine me donne de fortes envies suicidaires.

[DigBawggy]

Depressed people are tired and sleep a lot and stay depressed. Makes sense. Sleep is my favorite escape from reality. Maybe I need to rethink the equation. Also, I just ordered some tryptophan.

[kimdavis]

With McDougall program, you know you won't get stroke and heart attack, there goes away your depression.

[betzib]

I need 9 hours sleep..or I feel so bad I don't care about anything. So i dont get this particular lecture.

[beepbeepnj]

I get a little depressed trying to figure out why these vegan types tried to out smart nature with their tricky new invented diets: Steve Jobs, Andy Kaufman, Robin Gibb, Linda McCartney, Gilda Radner, Dr. Henry S. Lodge, Dr. Clive McCay, Mr. Rogers, Nathan Pritikin, Euell Gibbons, Dr. Paavo Airola, and the list is endless.