Studies have shown that the Mediterranean Diet can help protect against cardiovascular disease.The study reviewed here assessed the association between the Mediterranean dietary pattern and the risk of depression (Sanchez-Villegas A., et al. 2009). A total of 10,094 participants who were healthy at the beginning of the study were followed from 1999 and is still followed.After a median follow-up of 4.4 years the results showed inverse dose-response relationships for fruits, nuts, the monounsaturated fat (olive oil) to saturated fat (animal fat) ratio and legumes.The researchers concluded that the result suggested a protective role of the Mediterranean dietary pattern regarding the prevention of depressive disorders.This is one more reason to eat a low glycemic index diet similar to the Mediterranean pattern.
Association of the Mediterranean dietary pattern with the incidence of depression: the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra/University of Navarra follow-up (SUN) cohort. Sánchez-Villegas A, Delgado-RodrÃguez M, Alonso A, Schlatter J, Lahortiga F, Majem LS, MartÃnez-González MA. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009 Oct;66(10):1090-8.