Vegetarian diets are associated with good and healthy moods.
Vegetarians obtain very little quantity of eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) that are essential for the proper functioning of the brain, from their diets. This research work was carried out to determine the effect of vegetarian diets on mood state. Using validated food frequency questionnaires, researchers examined the diets of 138 adult members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church residing in the Southwest of U.S.A. The depression, anxiety, and mood states were evaluated in all the subjects with Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaires.
Researchers observed that vegetarians reported better mood states than omnivores did. Diets rich in linoleic and alpha-linoleic acids but low in EPA and DHA were found to be associated with healthy mood states. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that vegetarian diets may have a positive effect on mood states.