A 2017 research at Deakin University in Australia indicates a direct connection between a healthy diet and recovery from major depression.

A CBS New York video published this week cited the Deakin University study and another Australian study related to depression and diet while featuring former Columbia University Medical Librarian William Jiang, who has authored over 60 books and advocates for natural mental health. Jiang is diagnosed with schizophrenia and tells his story of recovery and healing in the publication, A Schizophrenic Will: A Story of Madness, A Story of Hope. Jiang also composed the Guide to Natural Mental Health: Anxiety, Bipolar, Depression, Schizophrenia, and Digital Addiction: Nutrition, and Complementary Therapies.

Diet for Major Depressive Disorder?

It should be said that the Australian studies demonstrated considerable improvement (and total remission of depression in 33 percent of participants) in people formally diagnosed with _major depressive disorder_ after following the Mediterranean Diet, which is full of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, healthy oils, and beans. This diet permits for an occasional glass of red wine ( to not be blended with medication. All dietary adjustments to treat depression ought to be made under the supervision of a qualified physician). Participants followed the diet for 3 months, with those in the dietary intervention group demonstrating significantly greater improvements throughout the board.

“Both trials were really excellent studies,” Psychiatrist Dr. Drew Ramsey reported to CBS. “They were large, they followed patients over a number of months. They really detailed their statistical methodology. It’s very exciting to think about how we can use this data to shift public policy,” Dr. Ramsey said.

Ramsey, a psychiatrist who recently established the e-course Eat to Beat Depression, has hopes of obtaining the FDA’s attention. He foresees a day when physicians will do more than simply prescribe drugs but may prescribe diets for depression that were proven, as the Mediterranean Diet has, to relieve symptoms and restore health.

This might be exactly what healthy dietary modifications have over pharmaceutical intervention. Healthy diets are usually restorative. The proper diet may not just relieve symptoms of depression but also revive vitality, lower cholesterol, encourage weight reduction, and contribute to improved sleep and a clearer mind.

Read about the Deakin University research here.