John Myers
Anyone who likes to go to fast-food restaurants or regularly prefers ready-to-eat foods at home and suffers from depression at the same time could significantly increase their chances of getting rid of depression if they simply ate more fruit and vegetables instead of fast food in the future.
Fruits and vegetables protect against depression
People who consume more processed foods than average are significantly more likely to develop depression than people who eat lots of fruit and vegetables. The latter have a significantly lower risk of ever becoming depressed than fast-food fans. At least that’s the conclusion of a study by researchers at the University of London who published their research in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
Healthy nutrition ensures a healthy psyche
The new study reconfirmed existing research on the subject, said Andrew McCulloch of the Mental Health Foundation.
There is an obvious connection between what people eat and their mental health. As is well known, the population is consuming less and less nutritious and fresh food, but increasingly industrially processed products that contain a lot of sugar and saturated fats – a diet that, in quite a few cases, can also affect the mood of the people concerned.
The study
The researchers collected data on the diet and lifestyle of 3,500 middle-aged officers and analyzed their eating and lifestyle habits. Of interest was on the one hand the proportion of healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables on the officers’ menu and on the other hand the number of unhealthy convenience products consumed, such as e.g. B. high-fat dairy products, processed meat, processed grain products (baked goods and pasta, grain-based snacks, etc.), fried foods and sweetened desserts.
In addition to diet, other risk factors for depression such as age, education, gender, sporting activities, and smoking were then included in the evaluation. It was then revealed that the risk of developing depression within the next five years was 58 percent higher for those participants who enjoyed eating processed foods than for those who ate healthily.
Of course, one could also assume that the depressive officers only ate such an unhealthy diet because of their poor mental state. Those who are depressed usually have no particular interest in looking for healthy foods and preparing healthy meals. However, the scientists found no evidence that would have suggested this inverse connection.
Pay attention to your relatives if they depend on unhealthy food in clinics, retirement homes, etc
Mr. McCulloch ended up expressing his particular concern for those people who – for whatever reason – do not have direct access to fresh produce, or who live in areas where there are many “tempting” fast food restaurants and takeaway chains would exist.
In reality, this concern is unfounded, at least in part, as most people are still free to choose where and what to eat. You can walk past fast-food restaurants if you want. On the other hand, there are also people who live in nursing or retirement homes. In very few of these establishments, value is placed on freshly prepared dishes made from high-quality organic food.
So if you have a friend or relative who is in the hospital or living in an institution, help them. Provide him or her with fresh fruit and vegetables, freshly made fruit and vegetable juices, and wholesome homemade snacks, and make sure he or she gets plenty of non-carbonated water as often as you can.
Always think how happy you would be if there were someone who would help you in such a situation to stay healthy for as long as possible and to be able to lead a life worth living without depression.
