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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Mediterranean Diet Beats the Blues

Study finds diet cuts risk of depression by nearly a third

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(Newser) – The Mediterranean diet has been shown to cut the risk of cancer and heart disease and researchers now say it can help prevent depression as well. Spanish researchers followed 10,000 subjects for nearly 5 years and found that, even when personality traits and other factors were taken into account, those who followed a diet high in fish, vegetables, legumes and olive oil and light on red meat were 30% less likely to suffer depression.

That's a "large reduction in the risk and this could be very important considering the large burden of disease represented by depression," one researcher told the BBC. "We know how important the Mediterranean diet is in reducing cardiovascular risk factors, and the same inflammatory proteins are also raised in patients with depression."

The Mediterranean diet features a high intake of legumes, fruit and nuts, cereals, vegetables and fish, and moderate alcohol consumption.
The Mediterranean diet features a high intake of legumes, fruit and nuts, cereals, vegetables and fish, and moderate alcohol consumption.   (Shutter Stock)
Fish features heavily in the typical Mediterranean diet.
Fish features heavily in the typical Mediterranean diet.   (©Terry Wha)
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What we do know is that a diet high in olive oil will enhance the amount of serotonin or brain transmitter available to you. Most anti-depression drugs work to keep more serotonin available in the brain.
- Dr Cecilia D'Felice, a clinical psychologist

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5 comments
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Spudsy
Oct 6, 09 11:39 AM CDT
Well, I can afford the vegetable, legumes and olive oil but the fish is usually a little pricey here in the midwest. Maybe I can get just a little less depressed. Reply
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prowlerzee
Oct 7, 09 10:21 AM CDT
Spudsy, check the frozen aisle. Frozen fish is actually quite good (they have unbreaded baked/broiled). And wait for the sales! I can even get an enormous amount of frozen mussels in a nice wine sauce for a couple of bucks.
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schmidtkoff
Oct 6, 09 12:16 PM CDT
come on spudsy - you must have a walmart there. tilapia, perch, mahi mahi, haddock, shrimp etc. ? just ignore the ramifications of over fishing and you can surely afford seafood. don't be depressed. i'm depressed that i do enjoy the lower walmart prices at the cost of the world's oceans. Reply
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SpeakUp
Oct 6, 09 5:20 PM CDT
There are many areas of the world that have these in their diet, but Mediterraneans due to stigma will not seek mental health help in the first place. Reply
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jagerhans
Oct 6, 09 6:13 PM CDT
now ya'all know how we manage to bear berlusconi without freakin'out. olive oil, chili peppers, tomatoes pasta and rivers of wine. Reply
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