MED DIET FOR 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 study from the University of Technology Sydney shows. The study contributes to the field of nutritional psychiatry, which explores the effect that specific nutrients, foods and dietary patterns can have on mental health. The diet was rich in vegetables, legumes and wholegrains, oily fish, olive oil and raw, unsalted nuts. “The primary focus was on increasing diet quality with fresh wholefoods while reducing the intake of ‘fast’ foods, sugar and processed red meat,” says lead researcher Jessica Bayes.