Although “comfort food” is called such for a reason, fatty, greasy, junk foods can actually make us feel much worse in the long run. Researchers from Britain, Spain, and Australia recently found that eating a fat- and sugar-heavy diet can increase one’s risk for depression.
These researchers looked at 41 previous studies that documented diet in relation to mental health in 32,908 adults from the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Australia, and the United States. Their findings, published in the journal of Molecular Psychiatry, show a link between poor diets and the onset of depression.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Camille Lassale from the department of epidemiology and public health at University College London (UCL), told the U.K.’s Guardian, “A pro-inflammatory diet can induce systemic inflammation, and this can directly increase the risk for depression.” She added, “Chronic inflammation can affect mental health by transporting pro-inflammatory molecules into the brain, it can also affect the molecules — neurotransmitters — responsible for mood regulation.”
Dr. Lassale stressed that their findings did not take previously depressed people into consideration, nor did they investigate how depressed people tend to eat poorer-quality foods. They simply looked at the connection between food quality and how it directly affects mental health.
UCL’s Dr. Tasnime Akbaraly, who co-authored the study, told the Guardian, “Added to recent randomised trials showing beneficial effects of dietary improvement on depression outcomes, there are now strong arguments in favor of regarding diet as mainstream in psychiatric medicine. Our study findings support routine dietary counselling as part of a doctor’s office visit, especially with mental health practitioners.”
These recent findings paired with previous studies with similar results have urged general practitioners to firstly recommend shifts in diet to patients struggling with mental health issues and/or chronic diseases. It’s a holistic remedy that can lead to positive results.
Dr. Lassale, Dr. Tasnime, and their fellow researchers also found that those who eat a traditional Mediterranean diet, consisting of fruits, nuts, fish, and vegetables, are less likely to develop depression.
However, Naveed Sattar, professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, argues that there is not enough evidence to suggest eating a plant-rich diet will lessen one’s chances of developing depression. He told the Guardian, “The link to inflammation as a plausible mechanism to explain a link between diet and mind health is highly tenuous.”
Although there are conflicting thoughts, generally, a healthier diet consisting of fruits and vegetables can increase energy and encourage healthy digestion, both of which will therefore enhance one’s overall health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, reach out to a doctor to talk about options. Alongside their professional advice, take it upon yourself to eat healthier to see if diet can really make a difference in your mindset. Either way, it can’t hurt.
