A new meta-analysis of clinical trials has concluded that healthy eating can “significantly” reduce symptoms of depression. Many scientists have noted a strong correlation between poor diet and mental health. The origins of mental health issues are quite complex, however some scientists have suggested that “diet is as important to psychiatry as it is to cardiology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology.”

In order to study the link between improving health and easing mental health symptoms, scientists examined data from over 46,000 people. The conclusions were substantial,  “the analysis revealed that every kind of dietary improvement “significantly reduced depressive symptoms.” However, the dietary changes did not affect anxiety.”

Another interesting take-away was that highly-specific or specialized diets may be unnecessary for the average individual, that just making simple changes can have a big impact. “In particular, eating more nutrient-dense meals which are high in fiber and vegetables, while cutting back on fast foods and refined sugars appears to be sufficient for avoiding the potentially negative psychological effects of a ‘junk food’ diet,” said Dr. Joseph Firth.

Another study found another strong factor to reducing symptoms of depression is to incorporate exercise. Research revealed that this impacted women more than men.

Eating healthy can help reduce the risk of obesity, inflammation and fatigue all of which are closely linked to poor mental health.

To learn more:  A diet rich in fiber and vegetables can relieve depression – Medical News Today

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