Increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in vitamin C, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lutein may reduce the risk of suffering from depression in older adults.
This study investigated the association between fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants intake and the occurrence of clinically-diagnosed depression in older adults. Researchers tracked the diets of 298 subjects aged 60 years and above and estimated the risk of developing depression in all the participants. They discovered that subjects who consumed the least amounts of fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lutein were more prone to suffer from depression than those with high dietary intake of fruits, vegetables, and antioxidant-laden foods. The findings of this study show that depression is less likely to occur among elderly individuals who regularly consume large servings of fruits, vegetables, and antioxidant-rich foods.