Mediterranean Diets May Help Prevent Depression

Can’t say I’m shocked. If you’re staring out at an amazing Mediterranean beach all day, how could you possibly be depressed!

But it turns out it’s not in the water, it’s in the food.

Researchers believe a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in vegetables, nuts, fruits, wine, fish and olive oil, may stave off depression.

According to a new study, printed in the Archives of General Psychiatry, people eating a Mediterranean diet were less likely to suffer from depression.

Data showed out of the 10,094 study participants only 156 men and 324 women had documented depression after 4.4 years.

Close adherence to a Mediterranean diet—i.e. not eating a lot of saturated fat, moderate alcohol intake, and high consumption of beans, nuts, cereals, vegetables, and fish—resulted in a 30% lower risk of depression.

Experts theorize eating a healthy Mediterranean diet may cut risk of depression by preventing heart disease and repairing oxygen-related cell damage.

As someone with depression, I think the absence of refined foods and sugar—like in the Mediterranean diet—goes a long way in improving mood disorders.

Via Food Navigator.

Image credit: prakhar