GOOD FOOD BETTER MOOD

YOUNG men with a poor diet saw a significant improvement in their symptoms of depression when they switched to a healthy Mediterranean diet, a new study shows.

Depression affects about a million Australians each year and is a significant risk factor for suicide, the leading cause of death in young adults.

The 12-week randomised control trial, conducted by researchers from the University of Technology Sydney, was recently published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

“There are lots of reasons why scientifically we think food affects mood,” lead researcher Jessica Bayes said.

She said the findings suggested that doctors and psychologists should consider referring depressed young men to a nutritionist or dietitian as part of treating clinical depression.