Can Improving Your Diet Actually Fight Depression?

According to a new study published in the journal PLOS One , following a Mediterranean diet full of fruits, vegetables, and lean meat can help improve symptoms of depression. This was one of the first studies to tease out direct cause and effect rather than just show a link between diet and depression symptoms. However, it’s important to note that while it’s possible a diet change can improve your depression symptoms, seeking professional help can be crucial to your mental health, too. Not only is what you eat is important for your physical health—fueling your runs and preventing certain types of diseases—but it’s important for your mental health, too. New research out of Australia found that the types of food you put into your body can help reduce symptoms of depression. The study , published in the journal PLOS One , included 101 participants who had moderate or high depression symptoms and regularly consumed refined carbs, sugar, and processed meats. Researchers had participants fill out surveys that measured things like depression, anxiety, memory, motivation, and mood, and then split everyone into two groups: one that didn’t change their diets and one that did. Those who changed their diets were instructed to follow a Mediterranean-style diet for three weeks, which included fruits, vegetables, whole grains , lean meat, fish, nuts and seeds, olive oil, and spices like cinnamon and turmeric. [Build a killer midsection in the kitchen for effortless miles on the road with Eat for Abs !] After three months, researchers followed up with the participants. They found that those who changed their diets to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat reported feeling less depressed, anxious, angry, tired, and tense at the end of the three-week period versus the beginning. Additionally, 21 percent of those who changed […]

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