Student Article
A Healthy Diet Could Reduce the Symptoms of Depression
Depression (noun): A feeling of sadness that lasts for a long time.
Processed foods (noun): Foods that have been altered or prepared in a factory.
Lean meats (noun): Meats with low fat content.
Adjunct therapy (noun): A supporting treatment used along with the main treatment to help improve results.
Learn how dietary changes can help reduce depression symptoms in young adults.
A surprising study about foods
A study conducted in Australia found that dietary changes can significantly reduce the symptoms of depression in just three weeks. Young adults with diets high in processed foods, sugar, and fats exhibited fewer signs of depression after consuming more fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meats.
The experiment: two different diets
Heather Francis and her colleagues at Macquarie University in Sydney studied 76 students aged 17-35 with poor diets and moderate to high symptoms of depression. The students were randomly divided into two groups: one group continued with their existing diets, while the other group received advice on healthy eating, a basket of healthy foods, and money toward groceries.
What changed after three weeks?
The researchers assessed each student for depression, anxiety, and overall mood before and after the three-week test period. They also evaluated their performance on several learning and reasoning tasks. At the end of the three weeks, the healthy eating group showed significant improvement in mood, with depression scores dropping into the normal range. They also showed lower anxiety scores than the unhealthy diet group. The students who continued eating unhealthily remained in the moderate-to-high range.
The changes lasted
The researchers followed up with 33 of the students three months later and found that those who continued eating healthy foods maintained their improvements in mood. The study's authors concluded that modifying one's diet to reduce processed food intake and increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, and olive oil can improve depression symptoms in young adults. These findings suggest that a modest change in diet can be a useful adjunct therapy for reducing symptoms of depression.
© Rob Banino / Our Media
Depression (noun): A feeling of sadness that lasts for a long time.
Processed foods (noun): Foods that have been altered or prepared in a factory.
Lean meats (noun): Meats with low fat content.
Adjunct therapy (noun): A supporting treatment used along with the main treatment to help improve results.