Drugs used to treat depression are some of the most prescribed drugs on the market today. These particular drugs work on balancing or helping the brain to create more neurotransmitters which are basically chemicals that help to relay messages from one nerve to another. The body uses the amino acids found in protein to produce these chemicals. Anyone who works out knows that amino acids found in protein are essential to muscle development. Amino acids are also essential for healthy brain function, without these amino acids the brain cannot produce enough neurotransmitters such as serotonin which is one of the chemicals that regulates our moods. Some doctors who practice natural medicine feel that amino acid therapy is more effective in some cases than the traditional drugs that are used to treat depression.

These chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine help to regulate pain, reduce anxiety, initiate deep sleep, boost energy, metal clarity, and basically make you feel happier. Without these chemicals being produced people become depressed, tired, weak, and just don't feel like themselves anymore, eventually they end up on some kind of prescription drug that probably has some kind of side effects. Unlike natural chemicals that your body produces, prescription drugs are man made chemicals that ultimately produce side effects.

About half of all amino acids are essential, which means your body cannot produce them, the only way you can get them is to consume foods containing protein. Remember amino acids are found in protein. Protein can come from animal sources or in some cases plant sources such as soy beans. Many athletes supplement their diets with protein powder supplements. Soy protein and whey protein are two examples. These kinds of protein are easily absorbed for muscle repair and contain the amino acids we talked about earlier. Another good thing about these protein supplements is they are much lower in fat than consuming large amounts of meat, fish, eggs and so on. Soy protein is also believed to help women with menopause symptoms. You can mix protein powders in a blender with skim or soy milk and your favorite fruit creating low fat protein filled meals, the combinations you can create are endless, use your imagination.

Do some research before you purchase a protein supplement, some taste better than others, and some are produced more naturally than others. Look at the ingredients and try to use the healthiest product you can find. Many soy beans are genetically modified to grow faster, and produce more beans yielding higher profits. Try to find soy protein that is made from natural non altered soy beans. Soy protein is the choice for most vegetarians because it contains no animal protein. Shaklee makes a good high quality soy protein made from natural soy beans using a special process to preserve beneficial nutrients. Some manufacturing processes used can reduce the quality and nutrition of the soy beans. Remember, protein is essential for good brain and muscle development. Take good care of your body, get the right nutrition and you may never need to take a prescription drug. Of course that's just my opinion, Take it for what it's worth.