Adherence to a healthy diet, particularly the plant-rich Mediterranean diet, and avoidance of sugary processed foods that promote inflammation are associated with a reduced risk for depression, a new systematic review and meta-analysis suggest.

This is yet more confirmation that a healthy diet not only improves physical health but also mental health, lead author Camille Lassale, PhD, research associate, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, United Kingdom, told Medscape Medical News.

For mental health professionals, these new results provide additional support for advising patients to follow a healthier diet, added Lassale.

Continue reading this article on Medscape