Food and Depression: You Are What You Eat!

Depression strikes individuals in America and across the globe! Recent studies in China, Australia, and Spain on the effects of food and depression all unwaveringly support the fact that what we eat has a significant impact on our mood!

Is there any relationship between dietary patterns and depression and anxiety in Chinese adolescents?

Weng TT, Hao JH, Qian QW, Cao H, Fu JL, Sun Y, Huang L, Tao FB.  Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei Province, Anhui 230032, People’s Republic of China.

In Bengbu, China, research supports that teens and kids who eat more blank carbohydrates and animal-based foods are more likely to develop symptoms of depression and anxiety than their peers whose diet consists primarily of a more traditional Chinese diet. The following study looked at more than 5,000 children and teens ages 11-16. The research concluded that dietary patterns should be considered important predictors of depression and anxiety among young people.

Fast-food and commercial baked goods consumption and the risk of depression

Almudena Sánchez-Villegasa1a2 c1, Estefania Toledoa2, Jokin de Iralaa2, Miguel Ruiz-Canelaa2, Jorge Pla-Vidala3 and Miguel A Martínez-Gonzáleza.  Centre for Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, PO Box 550, CP 35080, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Clinic of the University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

A study conducted in Spain looked at almost 9,000 adults for a link between commercial baked goods, fast food and depression. The findings concluded that those who consume fast food, as opposed to those who eat little to none, are 51% more likely to develop depression. Additionally, there is a direct dose-response relationship between junk food and depression. Lead author of the study, Almudena Sanchez-Villegas, states, “the more fast food you consume, the greater the risk of depression.”

Diet and Mental Health

More than 121 million people suffer from depression worldwide. It has become one of the main global causes of disability. There has been little research to date on the role that diet plays in developing depressive disorders, but the findings thus far agree that their is a link between food and depression. Research supports that a diet rich in the B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids help guard against developing depression. Opting for fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, and nuts can serve up as a tasty meal to lift one’s spirits!

Dallas Brain Changers

Dallas Brain Changers takes an integrative approach to treating depression without medication that addresses body, mind, and spirit through neurofeedback and Christian counseling. As they go through treatment, we work with our clients toward developing a healthier lifestyle that includes exercise and improved nutrition.

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