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NEWS THAT’S GOOD FOR YOU
healthy diet decreased depression in young men In a 12-week study conducted by researchers based in Sydney, Australia, men aged 18 to 25 with moderate to severe depression who ate a poor diet saw a significant improvement in depression symptoms after adopting a Mediterranean diet. The 72 participants in the randomized controlled trial were assigned to either a control group or a Mediterranean diet group, who followed a whole foods menu abundant in vegetables, legumes, whole grains, oily fish, olive oil, and nuts. Those in the control group were paired with community volunteers who spent social time with them, a practice known as befriending therapy. The researchers found that compared to befriending therapy, those in the Mediterranean diet group experienced a significant boost in their mental health and quality of life. “We were surprised by how willing the young men were to take on a new diet,” lead researcher Jessica Bayes said in a news release from the University of Technology Sydney. “Those assigned to the Mediterranean diet were able to significantly change their original diets, under the guidance of a nutritionist, over a short time frame.” The study’s conclusion indicates the importance of nutrition in treating depression, the scientist noted. “It suggests that medical doctors and psychologists should consider referring depressed young men to a nutritionist or dietitian as an important component of treating clinical depression,” Bayes said. SELECTED SOURCES “A better diet helps beat depression in young men,” University of Technology Sydney, 5/9/22 • “The effect of a Mediterranean diet on the symptoms of depression in young males (the ‘AMMEND’ study): A randomized control trial” by Jessica Bayes et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 4/20/22
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