According to Tasnime Akbaraly and her colleagues, eating processed and high fat food increases the risk of developing depression. Eating whole foods, such as fresh vegetables, fruit and fish could reduce the risk of developing depression
The researchers studied 3,486 participants from the Whitehall II Study. The participants had an average age of 55, and worked in civil service departments in London. Each participant completed a questionnaire about their eating habits, and a self-report assessment for depression.
The researchers found that people with the highest intake of ‘whole food’ were less likely to report having symptoms of depression. In contrast, high consumption of processed food was associated with increased odds of depression.
These associations between diet and onset of depressive symptoms remained after the researchers controlled for other indicators of a healthy lifestyle, such as not smoking, taking physical activity and a healthy body mass.
The authors said: “Our results suggest that consuming fruits, vegetables and fish may afford protection against the onset of depressive symptoms, whereas a diet rich in processed meat, chocolates, sweetened desserts, fried food, refined cereals and high-fat dairy products would increase people’s vulnerability.”
The researchers propose several explanations for their findings. First, the high level of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables could have a protective effect, as previous studies have shown higher antioxidant levels to be associated with lower risk of depression. Folate, which is found in large amounts in vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and spinach, and dried legumes such as lentils and chickpeas, may have a similar protective effect.
Second, eating lots of fish may protect against depression because of its high levels of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are a major component of neuron membranes in the brain.
Thirdly, it is possible that a ‘whole food’ diet protects against depression because of the combined effect of consuming nutrients from lots of different types of food - rather than the effect of one single nutrient.
The researchers say further research is needed to explain why eating processed food is associated with higher risk of depression. But they suggest it could be because a processed food diet is associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease and inflammation, which are known to be involved in the development of depression.
The researchers concluded: “The deleterious effect of a processed food diet on depression is a novel finding. Our research suggests that healthy eating policies will generate additional benefits to health and well-being, and that improving people’s diet should be considered as a potential target for preventing depressive disorders.”
Source: Royal College of Psychiatrists (Press Release)
