According to the WHO, depression affects 350 million people worldwide. In 2020, it could become the second leading cause of disability worldwide, and the leading cause of disease within 15 years. We now know that people with major depression have 40 to 60% more risk than the general population of dying prematurely.
While the causes of depression are known to include biological, psychological and environmental factors, many other factors are yet to be defined; starting with our eating habits!
Links between inflammation and depression
In a vast study, recently published in the British Journal of Nutrition, American and Australian researchers wanted to study the link between a pro-inflammatory diet and the risk of depression. Thanks to a large health survey (Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health), the scientists were able to examine the data of nearly 6,500 Australian women aged 50 to 55, for 12 years, focusing particularly on their diet.
And according to their observations, the diet would directly influence mental health.
A balanced diet for better health
In this new study, researchers found that women who ate a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods were 20% less likely to suffer from depression. According to them, the explanation would be due to the fact that “pro-inflammatory” foods cause or worsen a state of inflammation throughout the body, including the brain!
And this isn’t the first study to show that depression was most likely linked to an inflammatory reaction in the brain. In 2015, a Canadian study found that the presence of specific markers of neuroinflammation, known as TSPO Vt, was 30% higher in people with depression than in healthy people.
In France, depression affects 8% of individuals aged 15 to 75, i.e. nearly 3 million people. To limit the risk, improving your eating habits is a first solution.
Thus, people who adopt a diet based on fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains and oilseeds are much less prone to depression. Conversely, a diet rich in fatty acids or added sugars such as meats, fried foods, sodas and refined cereals has a clear impact on physical and mental health. It’s simple: to keep your spirits up, eat a balanced diet!
Read also :
6 foods to keep your spirits up
Adopting a balanced diet is not that complicated!
The health benefits of omega-3s
