If you’re a “live to eat” kind of person, we see you. You get joy from food on the daily. Us, too, to be honest.
But we’re looking beyond the enjoyment of a fantastic meal. We’re talking about the (science-backed) connection between what you eat and your mental wellness, an area of research that is growing right now.
So, yes, this absolutely applies to our fellow “live to eat” people, but also those “eat to live” folks (basically, everyone). Turns out, certain foods and nutrients have the potential to improve your mental health—and even serve as a complement to therapy for depression and anxiety if those are conditions you experience. Here are five foods to add to your diet for better mental health.
1. Plants
OK, this is more like a food category. But the upshot is that a lot of different foods fall within the category of plants: fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
A2020 studyin the journalClinical Nutritionfound that eating aplant-based diet—and especially a healthy plant-based diet—was associated with a lower risk of depression, anxiety and psychological distress in women. Choosing healthy plant foods was notable because researchers found that those who were eating an unhealthy plant-based diet actually raised their depression risk. Here are someplant-based recipesto help you get your fill.
2. Cold-Water Seafood
Cold-water fish, such as salmon, are key for mental wellness thanks to all of the omega-3 fats they contain. Researchers identified eating a high quantity of omega-3-rich foods as one of the five most important diet habits for preventing depression, according to a study inNutritional Neuroscience.Otherresearchsuggests that one particular omega-3 in seafood, DHA, is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety. Mix up how you get your omega-3s: sardines, tuna, trout, oysters and mussels are brimming with omega-3s, too.
Be sure to add oysters and mussels into your seafood rotation. In part for their omega-3s, but also these bivalves ranked highest on the Antidepressant Food Score in a 2018 study in theWorld Journal of Psychiatry—meaning they play a role in helping to prevent, or promote recovery from, depression. Browse ouromega-3 rich recipesfor inspiration or whip up ourWalnut-Rosemary Crusted Salmon(pictured above) for dinner.
3. Whole Grains
Like omega-3-rich seafood, whole grains were also identified as beneficial for depression in theNutritional Neurosciencestudy. Plus,another studypublished more recently revealed that women who ate moderate amounts of whole grains were less likely to experience anxiety. This was compared to those who ate fewer whole grains, but researchers also found that women who ate more refined grains (think: white rice, white bread, even baked goods) were more likely to experience depression and anxiety. To get your fill of whole grains, reach for oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, corn tortillas, barley and quinoa.
What Are Whole Grains and Why Are They So Important? Here’s What a Dietitian Says
4. Berries
People who eat more berries (and, well, more produce overall) are more likely to have better mental health compared to their berry-skipping counterparts, according to a 2020 review study inNutrients. Researchers reported that berry eaters overall had better moods and fewer depressive symptoms. Their life satisfaction was higher, as was their optimism. So lean into whichever berry you favor—and just eat more of them, and more often.
In the world of berries, wildblueberriesdeserve a special shoutout: just a half-cup of wild blueberries delivers more than a day’s dose of manganese. Manganese may be a lesser-known mineral, yes, but it’s one that seems to be important for mental wellness. In a study published in 2019 in the journalNutrients, Japanese adults who consumed the lowest levels of manganese were more likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety, compared to their counterparts who got more manganese into their diets. (Otherfoods that are decent sources of manganeseinclude hazelnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, teff and mussels.)
5. Nuts, and Especially Walnuts
People who regularly eat nuts of any kind are less likely to be depressed, compared to people who don’t eat nuts, says a study in the journalNutrients. And in the study, one particular nut stood out among the rest: walnuts. Walnut eaters were significantly less likely to be depressed compared to general nut eaters and also non-nut eaters. (Here are4 other impressive health benefits of walnuts.)
Another benefit to nuts is that they’re a great source of unsaturated fat, andresearchsuggests that people who eat more unsaturated fat (and less saturated fat) are less likely to have anxiety.
Bottom Line
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
