Eating Veggies May Reduce Depression

TAMPA – Healthy plant based diets of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes may significantly lower the risk for depression. Eliminating processed meats and trans fats help to aid in producing a clinical reduction in depression, according to a meta-analysis published in Molecular Psychiatry.

Analyzing the research of 40+ diet and depression studies, inflammatory diets of high amounts of processed meats and trans fat, (typically associated with junk foods), were found to have heightened levels of clinical depression.

The interaction of healthy vegetables, fruits, and nuts showed increased antioxidants that help to control emotions  along with additional protective outcomes. Scientists studying this suggest that a healthy, veggie based diet, reduces inflammatory, oxidative stress and insulin resistance that are each linked to depression.

• Lassale C, Batty GD, Baghdadli A, et al.
• Healthy dietary indices and risk of depressive outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
• Molecular Psychiatry. published online, September 26th, 2018.