Health - Wellness
Foods That Can Actually Reduce The Symptoms Of Depression
By ROBIN ROTHSTEIN
Nearly 7% of Americans over age 18 experience major depressive disorder (MDD), according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA). Health experts recommend several ways to prevent or reduce the symptoms of depression, such as walking, biking, painting, listening to music, and food intake.
A 2019 study published in Psychosomatic Medicine revealed that healthier diets can reduce symptoms of depression. One diet that researchers focus on is the Mediterranean Diet, a junk food-free diet that is heavy on fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, beans, and olive oil; this diet may have up to a 50% chance of reducing risks of depression.
Other health experts recommend "pre-agricultural whole foods," a diet that involves whole plants and animal foods and avoids grains and legumes. Experts believe that grains and legumes may block the brain's ability to absorb essential nutrients such as magnesium and zinc, both of which support healthy mental functions.