Dietary trends appear to emerge across dietary intervention trials investigating changes in depressive symptoms, and several align with the Mediterranean diet. Increases in fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and fish intake appear to be the way to go[1], and that’s not just for[2] depressive symptoms. In addition, decreases in processed meats, refined carbohydrates, and other inflammatory foods[3] have previously been found to be associated with a greater mental well-being. Even though the state of the evidence isn’t ideal, there is some evidence that certain food groups may impact depression.
References
- ^Parletta N, Zarnowiecki D, Cho J, Wilson A, Bogomolova S, Villani A, Itsiopoulos C, Niyonsenga T, Blunden S, Meyer B, Segal L, Baune BT, O'Dea KA Mediterranean-style dietary intervention supplemented with fish oil improves diet quality and mental health in people with depression: A randomized controlled trial (HELFIMED)Nutr Neurosci.(2019 Jul)
- ^Martínez-González MA, Salas-Salvadó J, Estruch R, Corella D, Fitó M, Ros E, PREDIMED INVESTIGATORSBenefits of the Mediterranean Diet: Insights From the PREDIMED StudyProg Cardiovasc Dis.(2015 Jul-Aug)
- ^Phillips CM, Shivappa N, Hébert JR, Perry IJDietary inflammatory index and mental health: A cross-sectional analysis of the relationship with depressive symptoms, anxiety and well-being in adultsClin Nutr.(2018 Oct)