What You Eat Could Be Impacting Your Mood

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You know what you eat affects your body, but did you know that it also impacts your mental health? Researchers at the Deakin University in Australia conducted a study that found there’s a clear correlation between your food choices and mindset.

Felice Jacka, professor of nutritional and epidemiological psychiatry led the research that spanned over ten years. Early in the process, she looked at 67 participants, both men and women, who were diagnosed with depression and had been eating an unhealthy diet.

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Jacka split the group in half for a 12-week interactive trial: the first group stuck to their current diet and attended social support sessions, while the second group was put on a Mediterranean diet, with lots of veggies and lean meats. They also attended a dietician-led nutrition class.

The results at the end of the study were striking. Both groups saw improved symptoms. In the first group, 8 percent of the participants no longer met the criteria for clinical depression. The second group following the Mediterranean diet saw 32 percent of its participants no longer experiencing depression.

That’s a huge difference.

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Based on her findings, Jacka concluded that a healthier diet doesn’t just benefit those with depression. She said making smarter food choices can lift your mood, and of course lead to better physical health. This may not seem groundbreaking, but now there are numbers behind the theory of a connection.

That’s good enough for us.