Doctor s Tip
Depression is a common disorder. Given the difficult times we’re living through right now, most of us could use a mood boost. We know that regular aerobic exercise boosts mood; how about food?
In his book “Your Body in Balance, The New Science of Food, Hormones, and Health,” Dr. Neal Barnard discusses the antidepressant effect of fruits and vegetables. He notes that depression in Japan was uncommon until the 1990s, but since then the incidence has increased dramatically, which appears to be due at least in part to transition from the traditional plant-based Japanese diet to a Western animal-based and processed food diet since 1990.