A healthy diet is one of the most overlooked factors in recovering from depression, recent research claims.
The Mediterranean diet in particular provides the vitamins and minerals the body and brain need.
Dr Vicent Balanzá, one of the study’s authors, explained that the brain…
“…needs an adequate intake of key nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3, essential amino acids, B-group vitamins (B12 and folate), vitamin D and minerals like zinc, magnesium and iron. A balanced and high-quality diet, such as the Mediterranean, provides all of these, but in cases of deficiencies, nutritional supplements are advisable.”
The Mediterranean diet is good for both the brain and the body, Dr Balanzá said:
“At the population level, we had scientific evidence that Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cognitive impairment. Now we also know that it reduces the risk of depression. These are strong arguments to preserve a cultural -and wholesome- treasure that has been transmitted over time,”
The study explains the best way of getting the required nutrients:
“A traditional whole-food diet, consisting of higher intakes of foods such as vegetables, fruits, seafood, whole grains, lean meat, nuts, and legumes, with avoidance of processed foods, is more likely to provide the nutrients that afford resiliency against the pathogenesis of mental disorders.”
To read the full article, click the link below.
Category(s):Depression
Source material from PsyBlog
