When considering how food affects health, one must consider food and its fundamental role in mental and physical health.
Experts point out that food plays an important role in mood, as it either leaves us in a state of stagnation or gives us a boost of positive energy that improves our psychological state.
And a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE suggests that sticking to a Mediterranean diet can help fight depression.
The researchers looked at a group of nearly 7,000 older adults over a two-year period. All participants adhered to a Mediterranean diet, with one group sticking to a calorie-restricted version of the diet, while the other group had no such restrictions.
The researchers found that participants in both groups experienced a reduction in depressive symptoms, concluding that the relationship between diet and mood disorder “deserves further research.”
Dr David Wes, CEO of Wise Mind Nutrition, said: ‘This study is powerful because it is a longitudinal cohort, allowing for assessment of changes over time. about the potential for improving nutrition for mood.”
Weiss adds that evidence supports the positive impact of the Mediterranean diet on depressive symptoms through a “wide range of pathways” and that the diet can help improve people’s quality of life.
It’s important to take a broader look at mental health, incorporate mood-enhancing habits and stay aware of out-of-control factors, says Cerebral Chief Nutrition Officer, Chelsia Jackley.
“While many studies link mental health conditions like depression to the foods we eat, these findings aren’t always consistent,” Jackley says. “Your mental health is also affected by things like genes, lifestyle, and environment. The foods you eat won’t cause or treat mental health conditions on their own,” says Jackley. But it could be an important piece of the puzzle.”