The Mediterranean diet, which helps fight heart disease and cancer, could also help avoid depression, Spanish researchers announced on Tuesday.
They discovered that depression is 30% less likely to emerge in people who eat a lot of vegetables, fruit and cereals, and stay away from red meat.
They researched 10,094 healthy adults in the last four years, the Journal of the American Medical Association announced. On the other hand, additional studies are needed to draw an exact answer.
Researchers from the Universities of Las Palmas and Navarra attacked the research happily.
Students from the schools completed surveys and the researchers reviewed their dedication to the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) for four-and-a-half years.
Participants who followed the MDP carefully were mostly male, non-smokers, married and were older.
The researchers found 480 examples of depression in the follow-up period, with 156 male cases and 324 female. They noted that the individuals who followed the MDP were 30% less likely to suffer from depression.
Professor Miguel Martinez-Gonzalez, of the University of Navarra, said to BBC News that the findings have to be confirmed in more time intensive trials with more participants.
“Thirty percent is a large reduction in the risk and this could be very important considering the large burden of disease represented by depression. We know how important the Mediterranean diet is in reducing cardiovascular risk factors and the same inflammatory proteins are also raised in patients with depression.”
Dr Cecilia D’Felice, a clinical psychologist, referred to the rising confirmation of the significance of diet in fighting depression.
“What we do know is that a diet high in olive oil will enhance the amount of serotonin or brain transmitter available to you. Most anti-depression drugs work to keep more serotonin available in the brain.”
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