Healthy Diet Can Reduce Depression

Depression has become a global health issue in many major developed and developing countries. People are approaching doctors, psychologists, dietician and similar health professions for the solution. They get different ideas from each one like involving in physical exercises, tablets, medicines, periodic consulting and similar others.

In the United States, about 49 of the 50 states have seen a rise in depression diagnosis rate between 2013 and 2016 and American teens and adults are the main victims of the health problem. Every year, 1 million people in Australia are suffering from depression.

Depression can be categorised into two divisions, one is physical and the other is mental depression. Insomnia, weight loss, sudden weight gain, blood pressure rise, heartbeat rise are the known effects of depression. On the basis of recent survey studies that analysed the effects of depression, it is found that depression in the male lead to infertility than in females. So, men are the more sufferers than women.

Some recent studies suggest that Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or shock treatment would reduce the depression and proclaim it as a cost-effective method. Weightlifting is also recommended by some researchers.

In the row, a cost-effective solution has been suggested by a new research team in Australia that stated that intake of a healthy diet will reduce the depression and improve the mental health of a patient. The research outcome was published in a reputed health journal. 

The study included more than 60 adults having major depression symptoms and taking the poor diet. They were divided into two groups, one group consulted a dietician who asked each one in the group to follow Mediterranean style diet while the second group followed the normal programs. Mediterranean style diet involves the high consumption of olive oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits, and vegetables, whole grains.

After analysis of 12-month period, their overall healthcare costs were $856 lower and the food costs estimated to be $26 per week. Also, the overall healthcare societal costs were $2591 lower during the period. There is an improved health condition observed in the first group adults.