High-fat diet may be linked to depression!

The study adds another string to the popular opinion which says that psychological disturbances cause depression. One's diet, especially if it contains high fat, processed foods, may also trigger depressive disorders, it suggests.

Details of the study
Scientists from the University of Melbourne analyzed the dietary habits and psychiatric conditions of 1046 Australian women, for over a 10-year period, to come up with these findings.

Of these, 925 participants did not suffer from any kind of mood disorders, whereas 121 women had depressive anxiety of mood disorders.

The researchers observed that the mood disorders were most prevalent in women aged 20-90 years who primarily ate processed, refined, high-fat food items during the 10-year time period.

Processed diet linked to depression
On analyzing how diet may relate to mood swings, the researchers found a strong association between both the seemingly unrelated factors.

Those who primarily consumed a “Western” diet, including hamburgers, white bread, pizza, chips, flavored milk drinks, beer, and sugar-laden foods, had a 50 percent elevated chance of developing such depressive and anxiety disorders.

The processed foods are highly laden with sodium which aids in depression, the researchers said.

On the other hand, women consuming mainly vegetables, fruit, beef, lamb, fish, and wholegrain foods were 30 percent less likely to develop such disorders.

The effects of diet didn’t reduce even after a variety of lifestyle factors including age, body weight, social and economic status, education, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol drinking habits were adjusted.

However, women consuming traditional diet, including fruits, salads, fish, beans etc., showed no such associations when such factors were adjusted by the research team.

“There’s no magic diet,” Dr Felice Jacka said. However, eating a diet mainly comprised of vegetables, fruits, wholegrain food, low dairy products and lean meat and reserving the processed and sweet treats to “sometimes foods” will lead to better physical health as well as mental well being, she said.

The researchers have outlined the need for further research to find out whether or not unhealthy diet could affect mental health.

Findings of the present study are published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.