Vegetarians suffer more from depression.
much more
A new Brazilian study suggests that despite the many benefits of a plant-based diet, vegetarians experience episodes of depression twice as often as meat eaters.
Here are all the worrying details
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health
02/10/2022
Sunday, October 02, 2022, 06:19 Updated: 07:36
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Iris Cole interviews Dr. Oren Tana about depression and its treatment (Walla system)
It has been known for years that nutrition also affects our mental state, and the assumption is that those who eat healthier are also mentally more balanced.
But now, a new study claims that precisely those who choose a plant-based diet, which is clearly healthier, may suffer more from depression.
According to a new study by Brazilian researchers published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, vegetarians experience episodes of depression twice as often as meat eaters.
There is a "positive association between the prevalence of depressive episodes and a meat-free diet," the study said.
On the other hand: red meat increases the risk of 9 life-threatening diseases
The researchers looked at the diets of 14,216 participants aged 35 to 74 for six months.
They were evaluated using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised - a tool used to diagnose common mental disorders.
The researchers found that vegetarians had twice as many episodes of depression as meat eaters during the same period, even when variables such as smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity were taken into account.
No, it's not due to nutritional deficiencies.
A red-haired man with a beard holding asparagus (Photo: ShutterStock)
But although the connection was clear in the study, the reason is not at all clear.
"Depressive episodes are more common in people who do not eat meat, independent of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors," the researchers said, but qualified that "nutritional deficiencies do not explain this relationship. The nature of the relationship is still unclear, and more data is needed to clarify a causal relationship ".
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To the full article
This, as mentioned, is not the first time that studies have found a connection between mood and nutrition.
In 2017, researchers found that people with depression who followed a diet rich in whole grains, lean protein, low-fat dairy products and plant-based foods were four times more likely to be in remission than those who ate ultra-processed foods.
Another study, published in 2019, found a correlation between a Mediterranean diet with fish oil supplements and a decrease in depression indices.
On the other hand, a study published two years ago and based on a survey conducted by the Allensbach Institute, one of the most prestigious public opinion institutes in Germany, found that vegetarians are more introverted than meat eaters.
"It is difficult to say what the reason for this is. It could be because more introverted people tend to have more restrictive eating habits or because they are more socially segregated because of their eating habits," the researchers explained.
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