Sharon Salomon - Boost Mood with Whole Foods ; Typical U.S. Diet Tied to Depression

The food choices you make every day can impact your frame of mind. Research shows that there are many variables associated with diet and mood, including the way in which dietary patterns, specific foods, and nutrients can impact your brain and mood.

There's plenty of evidence to suggest that the typical American diet of salty, sugary and fatty foods may be partly responsible for depressive disorders afflicting an estimated 9 percent of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Food-mood connection

A growing body of evidence links eating patterns with an increased risk for depression. Boost your mood with these food choices:

1. Whole foods versus processed foods dietary pattern. Researchers reported in the British Journal of Psychiatry in 2009 that a processed foods dietary pattern -- one that's rich in processed meat, chocolates, sweet desserts, fried food, refined cereals and high-fat dairy -- is a risk factor for depression in middle-aged people, compared with a whole foods pattern rich in fruits, vegetables and fish.

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http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=12988&Section=Nutrition