10 Natural antidepressants to boost your spirits

1. Get your hands in the dirt. Gardening has long been known for its meditative, relaxing, and grounding effects. Friendly bacteria in soil reportedly affects the brain in a way similar to antidepressants by increasing the release of serotonin.

2. Meditate. Scientists are now beginning to uncover evidence that meditation has a tangible effect on the brain. It suggests to people that they begin to see all their thoughts as just thoughts, whether they are positive, negative or neutral.

3. Burn Incense. Incense has long been used in religious rituals and hippy living rooms across the globe to create a peaceful environment. A new study shows burning frankincense (resin from the Boswellia plant) activates poorly understood ion channels in the brain that alleviate depression.

4. Ingest a yellow flower. St. John's Wort is a wild yellow flower that has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. There is some scientific evidence that St. John's Wort is helpful in treating mild to moderate depression, however it may not be effective for treating major depression.

5. Eat Sushi. Research has shown that fatty fish oil can actually improve wellbeing. People suffering from depression have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood. Fish oil can be found in raw and cooked fish and can also be taken as a dietary supplement.

6. Move your body. Talk a walk, ride a bike, hit the gym, or go dancing. Science indicates that people who regularly exercise benefit from positive boosts in mood and reduce the risk of depression. When you exercise, the body naturally releases chemicals called endorphins that trigger positive feelings in the body and mind.

7. Use natural sweeteners such as Agave Nectar or Maple Syrup. Some studies have linked the use of refined sugar to depression.

8. Get in the sunshine. Vitamin D has been shown to increase levels of serotonin in the brain.

9. Have a good laugh. Studies show that laughter fights the onset of depression by reducing stress hormones. The positive results of laughter may encourage people to relax and release the stress that often causes depression.

10. Use depression to make you stronger. Depression is not a human defect at all, but a defense mechanism that in its mild and moderate forms can force a healthy reassessment of personal circumstances. Depression can actually serve a purpose, deepening and enriching the human experience. By overcoming challenging times in our lives, we can actually become stronger evolutionarily speaking.

Simply recognizing we are feeling depressed can be the first step towards changing it. Little changes in our diet and lifestyle can go a long way.