Med-style diet 'can battle blues'

bbc ^ | October 2009

[JoeProBono]

The Mediterranean diet, already thought to protect against heart disease and cancer, may also help to prevent depression, Spanish researchers say.

They found depression was more than 30% less likely to develop in people who followed a diet high in vegetables, fruit and cereals, and low in red meat.

They studied 10,094 healthy adults over four years, the Journal of the American Medical Association reports.....

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[Mamzelle]

Pasta makes me very happy, too. Recommend “dreamfields” pasta with a low-carb hit.

[Seruzawa]

Really? Maybe people who like red meat are depressed because those arrogant smarmy holier-than-thou vegetarians, loud mouthed little hitlers and fad-addicted doctors are constantly telling them how unhealthy red meat is... although no one has ever proved anything of the sort.

Vegetarianism is a religious conviction, not a scientifically backed lifetyle.

[wastedyears]

Less red meat would make me unhappy.

[SonOfDarkSkies]

And vigorous exercise is better than diet or pills at fighting the blues!

[tired1]

If you see a fat slob in the Med it’s a safe bet they’re either American or British. In Spain when I said I was going to the beach to watch whales they knew what I meant.

[Alex Murphy]

....depression was more than 30% less likely to develop in people who followed a diet high in vegetables, fruit and cereals, and low in red meat.

I dunno about that. I usually have a smile plastered on my face when I'm eating steak!

[jagusafr]

I think it’s the red wine. Always makes me forget my troubles!

Colonel, USAFR

[JoeProBono]

[A_perfect_lady]

It’s the wine making them happy.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Less meat means smaller size.

[Jewbacca]

[JoeProBono]

[KarlInOhio]

I saw the article title and thought about Giada De Laurentiis.

[GUNGAGALUNGA]

Being of Lebanese ancestry I love med food. Stuffed grape leaves, Tabouli, humus, OLIVES....wine of course. But to totally disregard red meat is ludicrous. Protein baby protein.

[Moonman62]

a diet high in vegetables, fruit and cereals, and low in red meat.

How can that be? Just thinking about it is depressing.

[antiRepublicrat]

Wow, turns out this is pretty much in line with our current diet. Lots of bread, pasta and rice, veggies, with olive oil for almost everything. Yogurt makes for some great salad dressings too, plus it’s a good sauce base for a lot of meat dishes.

[Jewbacca]

Well, you have Giada serve it to you in bed with wine.

[angcat]

MOZZZZZAAARELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[fortunecookie]

And it’s delicious, too!

[antiRepublicrat]

As opposed to most fad diets that go to extremes, no red meat, no fat, no carbs, no..., this looks like a general “good sense” diet. You can do red meat, just keep it down. Variety baby, variety.

Mmmm, stuffed grape leaves. I’m hungry.

In our house one or two days a week is vegetarian. Not for some looney reason, just that eggplant curry and other such dishes are delicious main courses and don’t require meat.

[antiRepublicrat]

... with some sliced fresh tomatoes, olive oil, well-aged balsamic, fresh chopped basil...

I’m drooling.

[fortunecookie]

Maybe people who like red meat are depressed because those arrogant smarmy holier-than-thou vegetarians, loud mouthed little hitlers and fad-addicted doctors are constantly telling them how unhealthy red meat is... although no one has ever proved anything of the sort.

LOL! I love red meat, too. You could consider trying to add some of the elements of the chart along with your choice of protein, there is still benefit to be had.

[elcid1970]

“Vegetarianism is a religious conviction”

Absolutely! Couldn’t agree more.

Except their smarmy preachiness doesn’t depress me, it AMUSES me!

Especially when my healthy molars are munching on a perfectly grilled ribeye or N.Y. strip.

But in the current climate, that might now be considered “a blow struck against the state...a political act”.

The quote is from Orwell’s “1984”.

[angcat]

Don't forget the Prosecco.

[Jewbacca]

Lovely egg plant.

[radiohead]

<Vegetarianism is a religious conviction,

Are you kidding? I’m a vegan and it has nothing to do with religion. jeez. The proper statement is that vegetarianism and veganism may be a religious conviction for some people. For others it is a choice. Kinda like choosing to be a conservative and not worrying about what other people eat, or why they eat that way or calling them names because they don’t eat what you eat.

[The Great RJ]

While I would love a Mediterranean style diet, getting the ingredients is tough in many parts of the country especially in the Midwest beef belt. Good fresh fish other than those you catch yourself are hard to come by and you really have to look to find couscous and good olive oil.

[presently no screen name]

mark

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Now you've done it. Eggplant!!! Coated in Parmesan and breadcrumbs, fried in olive oil, a tomato sauce with lotsa garlic and hard crusted bread with olive dipping oil. A glass of Jar Head Red and I could go a happy woman.

Greek Stew, Potatoes, Carrots, Zucchini, Stewed tomatoes and Olive Oil — my mother made it (got it from a dear friend who immigrated from Greece). To die for! Wish she'd written it down. I'm still experimenting to get exactly the flavor she produced. It was a pinch of this, a pinch of that — I'm pinching my arse off and can't get it right. ;-)

[Constitutions Grandchild]

You’re killing me!!! Add a wheel of cheese and such a meal, you can’t believe.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

You can get garlic, tomatoes, zucchini, and olive oil — you've got the basics. Greek Seasoning is sold at most Schnucks and Shop n- Saves and if not — order on line and have it shipped — lemon pepper, garlic, salt and you've got the basics.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Try Walmart or Sam’s Clubs — Olive Oil can be found in quantities to take a bath in.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Should add some clams to your diet, son.

[antiRepublicrat]

On the other hand you know what they say, “Never trust a skinny chef.”

[caveat emptor]

Vegetarianism is a religious conviction, not a scientifically backed lifetyle.

Try reading some scientific information relating to vegetarianism and health. The connection has to do with iron.

Try here, here, here, and here.

[SunkenCiv]

Tell ya what, if I lived on the Mediterranean (but not in a Moslem country) I’d be pretty danged jazzed just to get up in the morning, if I had to live on Slimfast and bananas... hmm... strawberry Slimfast mixed with bananas... may not be too bad...

[antiRepublicrat]

We get our general-purpose olive oil at Sams pretty cheap, but it’s hard to find the dipping-grade stuff around here. We manage though. Same for good balsamic. That junk on the shelf at Wal-Mart is about it. I swear it’s regular distilled vinegar with artifical color added.

The Internet rules.