The Drug-Free Solution for Depressed Seniors

Depression is often a taboo topic, especially among seniors. 

But even though no one is talking about it, clinical depression is sadly very common in older individuals… with estimates putting the number at around 6 million people over 65. 

But you don’t have to suffer through the sadness. 

There is one surprisingly simple way to keep late-life depression at bay. 

It doesn’t involve a single drug… and it tastes delicious, too! 

Many studies have demonstrated the benefits of following the Mediterranean diet.  

While I think that the diet can be beneficial, I generally don’t promote the overall diet because there are parts of it I don’t agree with. 

For example, the diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grain, nuts, and legumes. So far so good. 

But it also advocates avoiding red meat and limiting consumption of poultry and fish. That’s where I differ.  

I say eat all the red meat you want (as long as it’s organic and grassfed), and the more fish you eat (especially cold–water fish like salmon), the better. 

But with this in mind, a recent study presented at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting found that overall, the Mediterranean diet could help prevent depression in older individuals. 

This was an especially important study because 1). Depression is a major problem in older individuals, but 2). Most studies investigating the impact of the Mediterranean diet have focused on middle-aged people. 

This is one of the first studies to look at the diet’s impact on older people – and the results were very encouraging. 

Specifically, for every additional unit of fruits and vegetables consumed, the probability of developing depression dropped by 20%.  

This adds evidence to a 2017 study showing that following a Mediterranean diet improved symptoms and quality of life in people with severe depression. 

It’s also another feather in the cap of the diet when it comes to promoting overall brain health, as other studies have shown its ability to help prevent age-related cognitive decline.