Afraid of Winter Depression? Go Mediterranean

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/afraid-of-winter-depression-go-mediterranean.html

posted by Megan, selected from Green Options Nov 9, 2009 1:03 pm

filed under: Eating for Health, Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness, Healthy Mind, depression, mediterranean diet

Afraid of Winter Depression? Go Mediterranean

14 comments

By Zachary Shahan, Green Options

The Mediterranean diet is not only good for its more well-known reasons — protecting against heart disease and cancer. According to a new study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, the Mediterranean diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, and fish, may decrease risk of depression.

Spanish researchers reported that 30 percent of patients who followed the Mediterranean diet (high in monounsaturated fats such as olive oil and low in saturated fats from meat and dairy products; including moderate intake of alcohol, and high intake of legumes, fruits, veggies, nuts, and grains) were at a lower risk of mental illnesses compared to populations who did not adhere to such a diet. It also showed that the main followers of the Mediterranean diet are males, ex-smokers, married people, and elderly individuals.

“The specific mechanisms by which a better adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern could help to prevent the occurrence of depression are not well known,” the researchers report. To explain how exactly the Mediterranean style of eating links to protection against depression, however, more studies have to be performed.

The researchers do think it is not individual components on their own but the whole diet combined that is important for protecting against depression. Almudena Sanchez-Villegas, the lead researcher of the new study, says:

The role of the overall dietary pattern may be more important than the effect of single components. It is plausible that the synergistic combination of a sufficient provision of omega-three fatty acids together with other natural unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants from olive oil and nuts, flavonoids and other phytochemicals from fruit and other plant foods and large amounts of natural folates and other B vitamins in the overall Mediterranean dietary pattern may exert a fair degree of protection against depression.

These optimistic findings can lighten up a society touched heavily more and more by depression.

The Mediterranean diet is well known for helping to reduce a person’s weight, improve mental sharpness and reduce the cholesterol, which can harden the arteries. Moreover, it is becoming a popular green style of eating due to the fact that its followers consume little amount of meat (which increase carbon emissions). Here is one more reason to try out the Mediterranean.

Green Options Media is a network of environmentally-focused blogs providing users with the information needed to make sustainable choices. Written by experienced professionals, Green Options Media's blogs engage visitors with authoritative content, compelling discussions, and actionable advice. We invite anyone with questions, or simply curiosity, to add their voices to the community, and share their approaches to achieving abundance.

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14 comments add your comment

Kirsty Robson says
Jan 4, 2010 10:16 PM

Thanks!

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Irene L. says
Dec 21, 2009 1:22 PM

I had heard this before about the good fat found in Mediterranean foods - interesting!

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Abo Ahmed r. says
Dec 20, 2009 7:00 AM

Interestting artickle and study.

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Abo Ahmed r. says
Dec 20, 2009 6:56 AM

Good I live in Meditranian area.
It is good to live in really but it is not good to drink alcohol...Meditrainian freash juices are excellent.

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Jessica S. says
Dec 19, 2009 2:06 PM

any seasonal options?

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Mr Martin H. says
Dec 19, 2009 2:03 PM

I feel now more encouraged to investigate the meditteranean diet. Thank you.

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Abo Ahmed r. says
Dec 10, 2009 1:31 AM

Your post encourages to stay in my country and to leave to Europe.. Thank you.

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Lynn Miller says
Dec 7, 2009 7:40 AM

Will try harder this year to incorporate the elements of a Mediteranian Diet into my life. I suffer with SAD ever since I 've moved to the northeast (NY) 8 years ago from the South and it's gotten to be a real challenge. Always open to new ideas; thanks.

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April Theberge says
Dec 4, 2009 5:12 AM

Thank you for the suggestion sounds like something I'll be trying.

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Annie Flanders says
Nov 15, 2009 8:40 PM

i grew up in an italian household -- my adopted father was sicilian -- so we ate the mediterranean diet every time we went to my aunt's -- which was several weekends a month for YEARS, and then my adopted mom and i lived with my aunt and uncle for a whole year when my dad was stationed in korea.

all in all, i realize how fortunate i was to have that diet through my childhood and into mid-adulthood.

several years ago i realized how much i missed all the antipasto and olive oil and once again began incorporating them into my daily life.

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