Today’s post is our third in recognition of National Mental Health Month. Today’s post will examine recently published research from Australia.

Researchers performed a meta-analysis on existing research regarding the association between dietary habits and the risk of depression. They were able to identify 21 studies (20 observational and one random controlled trial) that met their inclusion criteria. These studies were from Europe, the U.S., Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the UK, and involved thousands of patients, with ages between 20 and 94 years.

 After compiling data from these 21 different studies and performing the analysis, researchers concluded that a healthy diet composed of high consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, poultry and fish was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the odds of depression.

The  World Health Organization has concluded that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. It is estimated that more than one out of twenty Americans ages 12 and older will report moderate to severe depression symptoms over a given two-week period. With statistics like these, a healthy dietary approach seems like a beneficial primary prevention strategy for depression.

 (Source- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2014;99)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.