Nutritional psychology is the science of how food, and the nutrients in them, affect mood and behavior. A recent study looked at the evidence regarding direct relationships between food and mental health and found that diet may effect mental health.
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg and the University Medical Centre Groningen reviewed 13 studies that looked at the link between nutrition and mental health. They found that a diet high in fruit, vegetables, fish, and whole grains was associated with a reduced likelihood of depression.
They also reviewed 41 studies that looked at the association between depression and anxiety and the Meditarranean diet. They found that following the Mediterranean diet provides some protection against depression and anxiety. The Mediterranean diet is high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, fish, and olive oil and low in red meat.
The study was published online ahead of print on November 14, 2019 in the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology.
