Is the Mediterranean diet better for depression than Prozac or another anti-depressant? In the land of the good and plenty here in the good ole US of A, we are inundated with advertisements for pharmaceuticals on tv and in magazines. The simple solution to our health problems always seems to be a pill. This is especially true in the case of mental illnesses, including depression, which can be caused by life circumstances, biological factors, stress, and more. Diet and exercise seem to be the last treatment of choice for many Americans, but a recent study has indicated that changes in diet can very well the first line of defense against depression.

A recent NYT article examines the Mediterrarean style diet as a method of treating depression. In the study cited by the NYT, for four years, more than 10,000 depression-free Spaniards went on a Mediterranean-style diet and were later questioned about their diets and emotions. The results indicated that those who stuck to the diet had a significantly lower risk of succumbing to depression than those who were not on the diet. According to the NYT, the study does not factor in other causes and effects, so it might not be as statistically significant as it seems.

Dr. Martinez-Gonzalez stated that possible reasons for the healthy effects of the Mediterrean diet include the fact that, "the body's synthesis of the neurotransmitters is dependent on the vitamins you're eating."

For those of you wishing to try out a Mediterrean diet, the American Heart Association recommends increasing the amount of cereals, grains, legumes, nuts, and olive oil, seafood, and fruit in your diet and lessening the amount of red meat and dairy products. Omega fatty 3 acids are a key component of the Meditaranean and are found in olive oil, nuts and fatty fish such as salmon. The best part about the diet is that wine is also ok in moderation.

If you look at the food pyramid for the mediterranean diet, it is in exact opposition to the food pyramid put out  by the USDA when I was young. In that pyramid,  beef and dairy reigned supreme. The differences are meaningful not only in terms of  warding off depression, this diet is a great way to promote overall health, to lose weight, and to prevent heart disease.

For an introduction to the Mediterrean diet, please check out this link here, which has some recipes for those new to cooking mediterranean foods.