Depressed?

[DaKCMan AP]

Processed food link to depression: research

Mon Nov 2, 10:54 am ET

LONDON (AFP) – A diet heavy in processed and fatty foods increases the risk of depression, according to research published on Monday.

Researchers at University College London also found that a diet including plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit and fish could help prevent the onset of depression.

They compared participants -- all civil servants -- who ate a diet largely based on "whole" foods with a second group who mainly ate fried food, processed meat, high-fat dairy products and sweetened desserts.

Taking into account other indicators of a healthy lifestyle such as not smoking and taking physical exercise, those who ate the whole foods had a 26 percent lower risk of depression than those who ate mainly processed foods.

People with a diet heavy in processed food had a 58 percent higher risk of depression.

The researchers put forward several explanations for the findings, which are published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Firstly, the high level of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables could have a protective effect, as previous studies have shown higher antioxidant levels to be associated with a lower risk of depression.

Secondly, eating lots of fish may protect against depression because it contains high levels of the sort of polyunsaturated fatty acids which stimulate brain activity.

And they said it was possible that a "whole food" diet protects against depression because of the combined effect of consuming nutrients from lots of different types of food, rather than the effect of one single nutrient.

The researchers concluded: "Our research suggests that healthy eating policies will generate additional benefits to health and well-being, and that improving people's diet should be considered as a potential target for preventing depressive disorders."

The study was carried out on 3,486 people with an average age of 55, who worked for the civil service in London.

Each participant completed a questionnaire about their eating habits, and a self-assessment for depression.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091102...JvY2Vzc2VkZm9v

[Demonpenz]

i get depressed when I work every day it rains or cloudy every day, then on my oh so precious day off i catch up on sleep, or I have a cold, or I try to enjoy a beer and that turns into 20 beers and then I am hungover. I am just hoping for some days off away from work. Eating atleast a bunch of veggies gives you something to do and did see to help with me wanting to KILL EVERYONE FOREVER

[stevieray]

blame it on food?

that's pretty funny.

[KC Fish]

Walk it off...

[Inspector]

I only get depressed when I take a bunch of downers and chase them with a quart of Candian whiskey.

I also notice that I fall down a lot when depressed which depresses me more.

[Metrolike]

Originally Posted by stevieray

blame it on food?

that's pretty funny.

Yeah, a lot of the times people get depressed without even a reason. It can happen to anybody, if you're predisposed.

[Pink Paradise 2010]

soda can make you depressed too very intresting

[Buzz]

I like beer...

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Buzz

I like beer...

[KCCHIEFS27]

A lot of reports out there say depressed people are more intelligent than happy people..so take that.

[bowener]

Originally Posted by Inspector

I only get depressed when I take a bunch of downers and chase them with a quart of Candian whiskey.

I also notice that I fall down a lot when depressed which depresses me more.

Dad?

[Psyko Tek]

Originally Posted by tooge

I get bummed out when McDonalds gets rid of the McRib.

it'll be back

that is the junk food of the gods

[Psyko Tek]

Originally Posted by KCCHIEFS27

A lot of reports out there say depressed people are more intelligent than happy people..so take that.

fat dumb and happy?