Top Foods to Help Fight Depression

Researchers have ranked which nutrient-dense foods best help alleviate depressive symptoms

It's helpful to incorporate a wide range of antidepressant nutrients like folate, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids as part of a healthy diet. RossHelen/Shutterstock

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• A total of 34 nutrients known to be essential for humans were analyzed to find those deemed most beneficial for fighting depression. Researchers narrowed it down to the 12 with the most potential to combat depression and created the antidepressant food score (AFS) list
• The entire list of antidepressant foods is headed by watercress with a score of 127 percent, while the highest animal-based food is oysters with 56 percent
• Among people aged 15 years through 44 years, mental conditions, including depression, are the leading cause of disability worldwide, so viewing food as a treatment option is critical

While there are hundreds of articles, dietary strategies, government agencies, and nonprofits meant to offer information on how to fight disease and optimize your health, you would be hard-pressed to find any that concentrated on diet and brain health or mental disorders before 2007.

Given how much we’ve learned about the impact of diet on mental health, that lack of insight is surprising.