Low Vitamin Folate Intake May Cause Depression

Research from the University of Eastern Finland reinforces the theory that "we eat." A University student presented her doctoral dissertation in the field of nutritional epidemiology and concluded that a healthy diet can reduce the risk of depression.

The research followed up with about 2,000 men, showing that weight loss was associated with a reduction in the symptoms of depression. The data came from a community - based Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. The men were middle-aged and tracked in the study over a period of 13 to 20 years.

For the study, healthy eating and unhealthy eating habits were measured through frequent food records and questionnaires. Information on depression was collected from the National Hospital Discharge Program in Finland.

What is Healthy Eating?

Nutrition experts describe a healthy diet as one that includes healthy foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat cheese, and fish. All of these are sources of folate. Many researches show that depressed patients are low in folate. This vitamin is essential for cell growth and is at the heart of many scientific investigations into brain activity.

Sugar snacks are less healthy diet choices, consumption of lots of processed meat, sausages, processed foods, sugary desserts, rolls, as well as sugary drinks. Consumption of such foodstuffs is associated with an increase in the symptoms of depression.

Depression Research - The Ongoing Debate

The doctoral dissertation seems to support previous studies conducted in Universities around the world, but research on depression and healthy eating is controversial. In 2012, scientists from the University of Granada concluded that the commercial consumption of baked goods, such as cakes and brown nuts, as well as fast food is linked to depression. They went so far as to say that those who eat fast food regularly are 51 percent more likely to develop depression than those who eat little or no fast food.

The scientific journal, PLosONE, has published the results of a study highlighting the importance of a good diet in adolescence and its potential role in preventing mental disorders.

The Weight Factor

Over the years, several scientific and nutritional studies have suggested that weight loss may lead to reductions in depression, especially for those who were obese. In addition, in recent years, more and more evidence seems to suggest that weight loss can be beneficial for the mind. One of the most famous organizations for research on eating and drinking behavior, the Invasive Behavior Society, found that after a 6-month weight loss session, patients with depression and lost 8 percent of their initial weight reported significant reductions. on their symptoms of depression.

The Society's research and the Finnish doctorate make only small contributions to the ongoing research linking diet and depression. Depression is the most common mental disorder in the world, with more than 350 million people of all ages suffering from depression. Doctors urge researchers everywhere to dig deeper into the science of depression in an effort to find ways to curb it, as well as maintain a balanced diet full of healthy foods.