Diet can play a big part in the health of the brain and good mood. New research from Australia and Great Britain shows that green foods help fight depression and boost the mood.
Yesterday we observed World Suicide Prevention Day. Until recently, mental health was almost too taboo to talk about. Thankfully, it is starting to be recognized as a very important aspect of overall health, and people are starting to open up about depression and anxiety.
Suicide is still a major problem – not just in the U.S. – but worldwide.
The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people die from suicide every year, which is about one person every 40 seconds.
The new Australian/British study followed over 12,000 randomly selected people, who kept track of their food intake in a journal, and were afterwards given tests to determine their mental health well-being.
The authors found significant mental health benefits in those who ate green foods, fruits, and vegetables.
“Eating fruit and vegetables apparently boosts our happiness far more quickly than it improves human health. People’s motivation to eat healthy food is weakened by the fact that physical-health benefits, such as protecting against cancer, accrue decades later. However, well-being improvements from increased consumption of fruit and vegetables are closer to immediate,” Professor Andrew Oswald, the lead author said.
Studies like these could encourage health professionals and practitioners to advise healthier eating habits for their patients.
Dr Redzo Mujcic, research fellow at the University of Queensland, said: “Perhaps our results will be more effective than traditional messages in convincing people to have a healthy diet. There is a psychological payoff now from fruit and vegetables — not just a lower health risk decades later.”
The best way to take advantage of the health benefits of foods is to include green foods like kale, spinach, mustard greens, bok choy, and arugula that contain mood-boosting antioxidants, along with other leafy greens.
Swiss chard and asparagus are also great mood-regulating foods.
The study showing that green foods help fight depression was published in the American Journal of Public Health.
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
DON’T FORGET to sign up for our weekly newsletter to get our latest articles, updates, free recipes and giveaways.
Fruits and vegetables help prevent depression.
Eating fish helps reduce depression.
Turmeric is more potent than the leading medication at treating depression.
REFERENCES:
1. “World Suicide Prevention Day.” IASP. International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
2. “Fruit and Veg Give You the Feel-good Factor.” Warwick. University of Warwick, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
3. “11 Instant Mood-Boosting Foods.” Rodale’s Organic Life. Rodale’s Organic Life, 30 Mar. 2015. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
4. “Evolution of Well-Being and Happiness After Increases in Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
5. “Suicide Data.” World Health Organization. World Health Organization, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
