Hemp!

No, not the kind that you smoke...the kind that you ingest through nutrition, that's free of THC! This powerful plant is packed with nutritional value and has a lot of health benefits including those for mood disorders, such as depression. I will review some of those benefits, as well information on making a legal purchase. :-)

Benefits of Hemp:

• High in Protein - is actually a complete protein, meaning that it has all of the necessary amino acids our body needs
• High in Fatty Acids - hemp has the perfect blend of omegas 3-6-9. With this, you have a healthy functioning brain and heart. It is packed with DHA, EPA, and ALA. DHA and EPA have been previously covered in this blog, explaining the association with depressive symptoms. 
• High in fiber
• Regulates bowel movements
• Gluten free
• High in minerals and vitamins (particularly Vitamin E)
• Great food energy source

As you see, the list can go on and on. I have tried Hemp Seeds in the past, but was very inconsistent with my intake. If you are not too sure about the seeds, hemp also comes in the form of oil, milk and powder. I would recommend the powder for an add-on to any green smoothie. Vitacost has a variety of Hemp options, which I have included a link here.