Depression-free with the Mediterranean Diet

Weight increase makes some people feel depressed. The mind is only focused on how to remove excess unwanted weight. But according to a study recently published in the British Medical Journal, what happens is the opposite: depression cause you to gain weight. On the bright side, another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association stated that the people who implement the Mediterranean diet-which is a lot of eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil-reduced risk of depression up to 30 percent.

Mediterranean Diet 

As the name implies, the Mediterranean diet is based on the style of feeding people in countries of southern Europe such as Spain and Greece. There, people prefer olive oil, fish, a little dairy, and lots of vegetables and fruits. Alcohol (such as red wine) in sufficient quantities is also recommended. Such diets result in benefits such as reduced risk of heart problems and blood circulation. This advantage is caused by low levels of saturated fats (commonly found in butter, cheese, and red meat), and levels of monounsaturated fats (like olive oil), and some polyunsaturated fats (like fish). 

The study, conducted by researchers from several universities in Spain and involving 10,000 people, also showed that the Mediterranean countries have high levels of depression and suicide are lower than northern Europe. Still doing research on whether that is caused by their diet. 

The study shows

During the 4.5 years following the study, respondents who followed the Mediterranean diet was not so much depressed. Risk of depression is only about one third of those who do not follow the pattern of the Mediterranean. 

Researchers say any number of fruits, nuts, and legumes, as well as the type of fat or oil consumed respondents, the risk of depression remains low. According to the researchers, the fatty acids found in olive oil is one factor that led to lower levels of depression. They also concluded that the overall effect of the diet is more important than choosing one type of food. 

Showed no causal 

The study, whose results were published by the Archives of General Psychiatry, courtesy of the American Medical Association, this is a large scale. But this study can not prove that one thing causes another thing. Researchers can only show a relationship between them. 

In addition to diet, exercise regularly are also believed to protect us from depression. In the study shows that people who follow a Mediterranean diet was also exercising. The researchers put this fact into account when analyzing the results of the study. Nevertheless, there still may be other factors that are not caught and put in a note. 

For example, a respondent may apply Mediterranean diet many who live in southern Spain, where the weather is sunny and warmer than in central and northern parts. Mediterranean diet food ingredients, such as fish, fresh vegetables, and fruits, are also cheaper and more widely available in the south of the country. Perhaps differences in climate could explain some differences in depression. However, the geographical problem seems not to be considered in their analysis.