Mediterranean Diet for Brain Health

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https://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs-sunday-morning/video/CgVHSlGJKvRvouhOycate1n81d1_aL9n/diet-and-brain-health-you-are-what-you-eat-/

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https://oldwayspt.org/traditional-diets/mediterranean-diet

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Consider the idea that the brain is made of food. All the molecules in the brain, all the carbon, nitrogen, zinc, and magnesium come from food. 

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Foods that are high in nutrients such as long-chain omega-3 fats, zinc, magnesium, B12, iron, vitamin E, and folate are foods to help fuel the brain. Having high levels of these nutrients in the body is linked to preventing and treating depression.

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In early 2017, the first-ever randomized controlled clinical trial to test a dietary intervention as a treatment for clinical depression was published. The study was aptly called the SMILES (Supporting Modification of Lifestyle in Lower Emotional States) study.

A third of patients who adopted a Mediterranean diet achieved remission of depression by increasing “Brain Food”: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, lean meats and seafood.

They were also encouraged to decrease foods associated with the Standard American Diet – empty carbohydrates, refined starches, and highly processed foods.