You’ve probably heard me harp on about the benefits of fibre before. It’s commonly recommended as a part of a healthy diet because it has so many benefits. It’s been been recommend for the management of diabetes, heart disease, weight loss, and even in some types of cancer. Now a new study finds that fibre may also be linked with a reduced risk of depression, particularly in premenopausal women.
Depression is a common and serious mental health condition that affects 1 in 16 Australians every year. It not only affects a persons ability to carry out day to day activities but can also lead to suicide. This debilitating condition appears to be much more common in women. There are several factors that may make women more vulnerable to depression, the main one being fluctuations in hormone levels throughout the life stages. Puberty, premenstrual issues, pregnancy and menopause are all associated with hormone fluctuations that may lead to depression. Other factors may include unequal power and status, work overload, sexual abuse, body dis-morphia and eating disorders.
Because of the prevalence and serious consequences of depression, many studies have explored possible treatment options outside the use of pharmaceutical antidepressants. Lifestyle interventions that include diet, exercise and mindfulness have all been found to reduce the risk of depression. Now a new study finds dietary fibre intake may decrease risk as well. In the study, researchers looked at dietary fibre consumption in 5,807 women of varying ages. They found an inverse relationship between dietary-fiber intake and depression in premenopausal women after adjusting for other variables. While no significant difference was reported in postmenopausal women. That means that in premenopausal women, as fibre intake increased, recorded rates of depression dropped.
Research suggests that gut health in premenopausal and postmenopausal women are affected by estrogen. Therefore, the reason why postmenopausal women don’t benefit as much from increased dietary fiber may have to do with the estrogen depletion that occurs during menopause.
How does this translate into real life?
Simply adding more fibre to your diet may reduce your risk of depression. Fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are the main sources of dietary fibre.
If you need some help working out what you should be eating then a nutritional medicine consultation might help you. Lets chat!
