byTheresa Nybo

Many studies have shown that the food we eat impacts our physical health. Diet has been linked to the increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. But what about the brain? It is a physical organ that gets its nourishment from the food we eat, just like the rest of the body. A recent study looking at young adults with elevated depressive symptoms illustrates this point. These young adults cut down on processed foods; sugar, fatty or processed meats and soft drinks, and increased their intake of fruit, vegetables and fish. After only three weeks there was seen an improvement in their depression symptoms. And those that ate the most fruit and vegetables showed the most improvement. After three months, those that continued the healthy diet continued to do well mentally. So, enjoy healthy food for a healthy mind!

Reference:

Francis, H. M., Stevenson, R. J., Chambers, J. R., Gupta, D., Newey, B., and Lim, C. K. (2019) A brief diet intervention can reduce symptoms of depression in young adults – A randomised controlled trial. PlosOne, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222768