Having a habit of a healthy diet has many benefits. A new analysis of data from about 46,000 people found that diets for nutrient boosting, weight loss and fat reduction helps in reducing the symptoms of depression. Dr. Joseph Firth, an Honorary Research person at the University of Manchester and Research Fellow at NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University said that the existing research has not been able to definitively establish if the dietary improvements could benefit mental health.
However a new study that has been published in the Psychosomatic Medicine and Dr. Firth and his colleagues have been able to bring together all the existing data from the clinical trials of diets for mental health conditions. The new study has provided some convincing evidence that dietary improvements significantly reduces the symptoms of depression even in people without the diagnosed depressive disorders. The author said, “The overall evidence for the effects of diet on mood and mental well-being had up to now yet to be assessed. But our recent meta-analysis has done just that; showing that adopting a healthier diet can boost peoples’ mood. However, it has no clear effects on anxiety.”
The study has combined data of nearly 16 randomised controlled trials that had examined the effects of dietary interventions on the symptoms of depression and anxiety. The study had found that all types of dietary improvements had appeared to have equal effects on mental health with weight loss, nutrient improving diets or weight-loss and all had similar benefits in terms of depressive symptoms. Dr Firth said, “This is actually good news” and added that the similar effects from any type of dietary improvements suggests that highly- specific or specialized diets are essential for an average individual.
It can be just making simple changes which are equally beneficial for the mental health. Junk Food diet which is otherwise not healthy, can also put a negative effect on the mental health.
Photo Credits: Pixabay
