Australian researchers recently published the results of a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition regarding the connection between diet and depression.
Traditionally, studies exploring the link between diet and depression have focused on the effect of individual nutrients on depression. In the last few years, an increasing number of researchers have shifted focus to examining dietary patterns and depression.
The Australian researchers reviewed 21 studies that analyzed diet and depression, and they discovered two things:
- Diets high in fruit, vegetables, fish, and whole grains had a significant association with reduced odds of depression
- There was no statically significant association between a Western diet and depression.
While the researchers concluded that more research was needed, it confirms what countless other studies have determined: nutrition affects mental health.