Healthy food prevents depression in midlife

A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fish, is very effective in maintaining health and figure. But in addition, a group of researchers found that this good habit has another perk: it prevents depression in midlife.

Depression is not just a fleeting sadness but a deeper problem in the state of mind that makes a person unable to continue with their normal lives. For that reason, it is considered a disabling illness that requires care by specialists.

There is no single cause of depression, but it is considered that develops from a combination of psychological, genetic and biochemical. Its symptoms vary greatly from person to person, but the most common are usually deep sadness or anxiety, irritability, pessimism, problems concentrating, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, among many others.

FOODS TO SMILE

Scientists at University College London, the National Institute for Health and Medical Research (France) and University of Montpellier (France) investigated the effect of an overall healthy diet on mood. They commented that most previous work focused on the influence of specific nutrients on depression, but left aside the analysis of food as a whole.

In total, studied 3486 men and women of average age 57 years. They were able to identify two eating habits among them. On one side were those who ate a set of healthy fruits, vegetables and fish. Moreover, some volunteers prefer processed foods such as desserts with sugar, fried foods, refined grains and high-fat dairy products.

After five years, the scientists submitted a questionnaire to assess the presence of a possible alteration in mood. People who are fed on processed foods had a 58% higher risk of developing depression.

The researchers explained that although they noted a very consistent pattern between diet and depression should be further studies to confirm this definitively. Also, do not rule out the possibility that it is the reverse, i.e. that people who have depressive tendencies usually choose more processed foods.