The researchers of the Macquarie University, in Australia, say that changing your eating habits could be a good way to pave the way for recovery when you are suffering from depression. According to them, thefatty and sweet food would be just as bad for the mind as it is for the body. The result: a cascade of reactions in the brain that can, in young adults, lead to depression.
Eat healthy to reduce medication
For this study, published in the magazine Plos One, the scientists wanted to determine if a three-week dietary intervention could improve symptoms in young adults suffering from depression. They recruited recruited 76 participants aged 17 to 35 with symptoms of depression ranging from moderate to severe. All had a diet that included high levels of sugar, saturated fat and processed foods. During the three weeks of the study, some continued with their usual diet and others received baskets of healthy foods as well as nutritional advice.
As hoped, in this group depression scores improved significantly, as did anxiety and stress scores. Researchers believe that a healthy diet could prevent worsening symptoms, and ultimately reduce medical treatment.
Their conclusions join those of American researchers who had highlighted the harmful effects of an unbalanced diet on mental health.
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