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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : February 6, 2019 9:20 AM IST
Change your diet to beat depression ©Shutterstock
If you are one of those who believes in drowning all your worries in a tub of cream or by binge eating fries, you have got to understand that that is doing you more harm than good. Sure, your favourite food could give you some momentary comfort, but that's that. The only changes that junk food will bring about in your body is the unnecessary addition of calories and unhealthy fats and its dangerous consequences. What you must do when you are depressed is focus on weight loss, nutrient-boosting fat reduction diets because they can reduce the symptoms of depression, according to a new study published in Psychosomatic Medicine.
The research provides convincing evidence that dietary improvement significantly reduces symptoms of depression, even in people without diagnosed depressive disorders. According to Joseph Firth, lead researcher of the study, adopting a healthier diet can boost peoples' mood. The also study found that all types of dietary improvement appeared to have equal effects on mental health, with weight loss, fat reduction or nutrient-improving diets all having similar benefits for depressive symptoms. Eating more nutrient-dense meals which are high in fibre and vegetables, while cutting back on fast-foods and refined sugars appear to be sufficient for avoiding the potentially negative psychological effects of a 'junk food' diet, the researcher was quoted as saying.
Junk food could lead to or worsen mental health issues like depression
A recent in the journal Molecular Psychiatry said that junk food, known for triggering inflammation in the body, can directly increase the risk for depression. The research said that a diet with excess amount of fat or sugar, or processed ingredients can lead to inflammation which can affect mental health by transporting pro-inflammatory molecules into the brain and it can also affect the molecules neurotransmitters responsible for mood regulation. In fact, it was observed that junk food could be responsible for the onset of depression and anxiety.
Another study shows that high-fat food alters the mix of bacteria in the gut and thereby induces changes in behaviour and mental health.
What you should eat to beat depression
Some foods are known to boost not just energy but also mood. Foods high in fatty acids, fibre, protein, vitamin B6 and B12, serotonin and tryptophan particularly work well in helping alleviate the symptoms of depression.
With inputs from ANI
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