Researchers in Australia recently published a study in the Journal of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, showing a connection between diet and depression
The researchers split the 85 participants into two groups:
- One group received
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- Food hampers and cooking workshops every 2 weeks for 3 months
- Fish oil supplements for 6 months
- One group attended
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- Social groups every 2 weeks
Researchers assessed diet and mental health for participants in both groups at the 3-month mark, then again at the 6-month mark.
What they discovered was that those receiving the food hampers and cooking workshops differed from the other group in several ways:
- Had a better overall diet
- Consumed more
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- Vegetables
- Fruit
- Nuts
- Legumes
- Whole grains
- Had greater vegetable diversity
- Ate fewer unhealthy snacks
- Ate less red meat/chicken
- Had greater reduction in depression
- Had improved mental health scores
These differences remained pronounced at the 6-month assessment.
The researchers determined direct correlation between improved mental health and the following participant practices:
- Improved diet
- Increased nut consumption
- Greater vegetable diversity
- Increased legume consumption
- Increased omega-3 consumption
- Decreased omega-6 consumption
This study joins a growing body of research showing a strong connection between nutrition and mental health. Here at Truehope, we’ve been promoting nutrition as mental health treatment for over 20 years.