How Your Diet Can Impact Your Depression

The Mediterranean diet is well known for its physical health benefits and may be the next breakthrough in treating mental health problems.

Dozens of randomly selected participants with major depressive orders participated in a study conducted by researchers at Deakin University. The study consisted of putting 31 participants on a Mediterranean-style diet for 12 weeks, while 25 participants were given social support. Only 8 percent of those involved in the social support group showed improvement in their symptoms versus a third who were on the diet.

A professor and director of Deakin University’s Food and Mood Centre, Felice Jacka, talked to ABC about the Mediterranean diet and how it improves cardiovascular health, saying “… diet has a very potent impact on biological aspects of our body that affect depressions risks.” Jacka goes on to discuss how our immune system, brain plasticity, and gut microbiota seem to be central not only to our physical health, but to our mental health as well.

Sarah Keeble, a participant who partook in the Mediterranean-style diet, said the program was life changing. “I felt clearer in my mind. I felt balanced. I felt happier. I actually had a lot more energy,” said Keeble. “It's not going to cure depression, but you can certainly handle it very well.” Keeble, who is now pursuing a diploma in health science, has decided to continue the Mediterranean diet and hopes to help people where they think there is no hope.

Though dieting is an important aspect of improving physical and mental health, you should not replace therapy and drug treatments with the Mediterranean diet. Professor Jacka pointed out that most of the participants in the study were receiving some type of psychotherapy or pharmacology treatment to which the diet was a supplement. In addition, Jacka hopes to see more dietitian support for those who are experiencing depression as a result of the study.