Better diet could ease symptoms of depression, study finds

It has been speculated earlier that a healthy diet can improve the mood and reduce the symptoms of mild depression. A new study proves the causes and effects of a healthy diet and improved symptoms of depression.

The results of the new study titled "The Effects of Food Improvement on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials" were published this week in the latest issue from the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

A healthy and balanced diet. Image credit: Syda Productions / Shutterstock

The Western Sydney University study examined 16 clinical trials involving 45,826 people who had altered their diet to reduce their symptoms of depression and anxiety. Clinical trials have been conducted in more than one country, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom. Senior researcher, Joseph Firth, of Western Sydney University, said the major change in their diet was to reduce "junk food consumption" and replace foods high in fats and sugars with rich foods. in fiber and nutrients, such as fruits and vegetables. Dr. Firth said, "We looked closely at the data and found interestingly that there were no significant differences in the types of diets used … Dieting was just as nutrient-enriched diets. "" Extreme diets "are needed for depression, he explained." What's needed is a change in the basics, "he said. Dr. Firth added that the study had no beneficial effect of diets on anxiety disorders and that depressed women benefited more than men.

Dr. Firth said studies have shown that regular exercise can have a protective effect against depression. This is the first study demonstrating that a healthy diet can also help reduce the symptoms of depression. He explained that an average Australian consumes about 19 servings of junk food a week and a lot less than recommended fruits, vegetables and whole grains, rich in nutrients and fiber.

The authors emphasize that diet does not replace the tested and accepted treatments for depressive illness, including drugs and psychotherapy. However, diets can be an extra remedy, they said. They call for public health campaigns that focus on healthy eating and its effects on mental health. "Public health systems are trying to improve people's diets and examine the results for physical health (…) and focus on tackling issues such as obesity (…). They should also pay attention to the positive mental health effects that could occur and large scale to repair the psychological well-being of people, "said Dr. Firth.

"Thus, depressive disorders represent a considerable burden not only for individuals, but also for society because of the high economic cost of lost productivity and the demand for health services," write the authors. The authors add that dietary interventions could be an "innovative" approach to depression and conclude, "Future research is needed to determine the specific components of dietary interventions that improve mental health, explore the underlying mechanisms and establish effective for the implementation of these clinical interventions and public health parameters. "

In 2017 and 2018, depressive illness increased, with at least one in five Australians having mental illness (13.1% were anxious and 10.4% felt depressed). Women were more vulnerable than men, reports say.