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- Mediterranean diet could help prevent depression
Mediterranean diet could help prevent depression
6 October 2009: Sticking to a Mediterranean diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish can lower your chances of developing depression, new research suggests.
Scientists studied over 10,000 Spanish university graduates, who had not previously been diagnosed with depression, for just less than four and a half years. They looked at the relationship between how closely people followed the Mediterranean diet and the incidence of depression.
A questionnaire was used to assess how closely participants followed the principles of the Mediterranean diet. This included eating large amounts of fruit, vegetables, nuts, cereal, legumes and fish, drinking moderate amounts of alcohol and a low intake of meat and dairy products.
The scientists found that the more closely subjects stuck to the principal elements of a Mediterranean diet, the lower the likelihood of them developing depression.
The researchers took other factors into account, including sex, age, body mass index, physical activity levels, smoking, calorie intake and employment status.
Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director at Bupa International, warned that more research is needed to confirm these findings.
“This study doesn’t show specifically how following a Mediterranean diet could help to prevent depression,” Dr Khemka said. “The authors suggest that parts of the diet may improve your blood vessel function, fight inflammation, reduce your risk of heart disease and repair cell damage - all of which may decrease your chances of developing depression.
“Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and look at exactly how following a Mediterranean diet could protect you against depression.
“A balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, not the Mediterranean diet specifically, can help to keep you healthy. Try to maintain a healthy weight and if you drink alcohol, keep within the recommended limits.
“Evidence suggests that physical activity is effective at preventing and managing depression, as well as other illnesses. Try to do 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity on five or more days a week.”
Related topics
Key facts
A traditional Mediterranean diet contains lots of fruit, vegetables, bread and cereals (mainly wholegrain), nuts, beans and seeds.
Dairy products, fish and poultry are eaten in low to moderate amounts, and little red meat is eaten.
The main source of fat in a Mediterranean diet is olive oil.
A Mediterranean diet includes a low to moderate amount of wine.
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