Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland looked at 2,000 men, as part of the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor (KIHD) study. All the men included in the study were either middle-aged or old. Information about the participants' diet and mental status were collected via questionnaires and the National Hospital Discharge Register.
Researchers followed the participants between 13 and 20 years and found that a healthy diet, which is particularly rich in folic acid, effectively protected them against the risk of developing depression, during the study period. On the other hand, consuming unhealthy foods like sausages, snacks, sugary drinks, and baked food considerably increased symptoms of depression.
"The study reinforces the hypothesis that a healthy diet has potential not only in the warding off of depression, but also in its prevention," researcher Anu Ruusunen, said in a University news release. Researchers also found that losing some weight helped reduce such symptoms.
Some food items that help fight depression include papaya, berries, garlic, asparagus, avocado, oatmeal, cashews, peaches, guava, mangoes, chamomile tea, chocolate, green tea, oranges, oysters, apple and walnut.
