Diet and Depression

Jerry Kennard is a psychologist Interested Chartered Psychologist Dr. Jerry Kennard is a psychologist, freelance writer & consultant.... Send Message Subscribe: Jerry Kennard

Monday, November 09, 2009
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Over the years various lines of enquiry have pointed to the fact that mood is affected by food. Not uncommonly, the focus has tended to be on particular types of sugary or fatty foods along with their nutritional value, or lack of. Most people, for example, have heard of the benefits of the Mediterra...

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Diet
Judy
Monday, November 09, 2009 at 10:25 AM

I was wondering if all these participants in the study were not depressed in the first place, or if they knew whether or not they were. Could it have been the case that the people eating the processed food were already depressed? Just wondering.

re: Diet
Jerry Kennard
Monday, November 09, 2009 at 12:01 PM

Good question - is it the cause or the effect? The research team allocated questionnaires to the sample and obtained a self-report of depressive symptoms five years after the study began. With such a sample size, and the ages of the sample, it would be reasonable to expect that some may have had some level of depression prior to the study. Research like this can't report on absolutes and there could well have been lifestyle issues that affected certain outcomes (although some of the main one's were controlled for). Whether or not symptoms of depression were there prior to the investigation it doesn't change the fact that those eating a certain type of diet appear to suffer less from the symptoms of depression. This supports similar research on the issue.

Untitled Comment
fifi
Monday, November 09, 2009 at 01:17 PM

Hi there Jerry

Well the Mediteranean diet has certainly lifted my mood as I've lost half a stone on it already. I'm hoping it's going to help with my depression so hopefully I can come of the antidepressants. All the studies that I have read have all been positive so I'm gonna give it a go. It helps that I love fish anyway. Must be the Greek blood in me.

re: Untitled Comment
Jerry Kennard
Monday, November 09, 2009 at 03:40 PM

Ah! Well that's good news indeed. Yes, the evidence is pretty compelling over diet. I find my diet tends towards the Med' during the summer months but I seem to tip easily into heavier foods during the winter. I wish you well with the diet. Sounds like you might be on the way to a new wardrobe as well!

re: re: Untitled Comment
fifi
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 02:17 AM

Funny! That never crossed my mind.