Broadly speaking, it is important to recall that brain health, be it emotional or cognitive, is intimately connected to overall health. And this is bi-directional—if someone has heart disease, they are more prone to depression, and if someone is depressed they become more prone to heart disease. There is also increasing evidence about the relationship between so-called “metabolic syndrome” and depression. Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of changes that increase the risk for heart disease and diabetes, and this includes high blood pressure and obesity. Even very young people who are obese can increase their risk of brain changes and the likelihood of mood disorders. While we might think that this is only relevant in cases of severe obesity or clinically diagnosed cardiovascular disease, we now know that this is a continuum. Finally, in the last few years, we have begun to learn about the connection between our microbiome [the collection of microbes that live inside us] and our brain function. There is still much to learn in that area, but again it emphasizes the close connection between the state of our bodies and the state of our brain.
So, I am not recommending specific foods to combat depression. Rather, the general recommendation is to eat a healthy, nutritious, balanced diet, to be active and sleep well. To be as physically fit as possible. Our brain can tell the difference.
