Eating vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can be used to fight depression. This conclusion was made by American psychologists.
Eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a simple and affordable way to treat depression, according to a new study. Scientists from the United States observed the health of thousands of people with an average age of 81 years for more than 6 years.
Researchers were interested in the relationship between diet and human mood. They found that retirees who avoided eating red meat, saturated fats, and sugar were 11% less likely to experience depression by the end of the observation period. All of them adhered to the diet of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
“Depression is very common in older people, it is more likely to occur in those who have memory problems and risk factors for vascular diseases like high blood pressure and high cholesterol,” said the study’s authors from Rush University. – Changes in lifestyle such as a change in diet are a more preferred method of preventing and treating depression than taking medication. That is why we wanted to see if diet can reduce the risk of this dangerous mental disorder. ”
In our country, it is estimated that approximately 20% of residents experience depression, and many of them receive prescriptions for antidepressants. In the UK, the release of antidepressants has reached historic highs, with 64 million recipes being issued each year. Even 10 years ago, this number was 50% less. Unlike antidepressants, dietary changes are not associated with any side effects, and in addition to protecting against depression, dietary changes are an excellent way to prevent cardiovascular and other diseases.