Title: Study: Consuming 30 Grams of Nuts Daily May Help Ward Off Depression

Researchers examined data from over 13,500 individuals in the UK, aged between 37 and 73 years, who were not depressed at the start of the study. Participants' nut consumption, including unseasoned nuts like almonds, cashews, pistachios, salted or roasted nuts, and peanuts, was recorded. They were followed for five years, during which 8% were diagnosed with depression. The analysis revealed that low to moderate nut consumption - equivalent to one serving of 30 grams per day - was associated with a 17% reduced risk of developing depression compared to those who did not consume nuts. The lead author Bruno Pezzucchi Berone from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain stated, "Our results highlight another benefit of nut consumption, with a 17% decrease in depression linked to nut intake. This provides a stronger rationale for people to become enthusiastic about consuming nuts." The team published their findings in the journal Clinical Nutrition: "This study analyzed the potential relationship between nut consumption and the risk of developing depression in a large sample of middle-aged and older adults in the UK. The main finding is that regular low to moderate nut consumption is associated with a lower risk of depression compared to non-nut consumption. Our results underscore the potential role of nut consumption as a healthy dietary behavior to prevent depression in individuals without other known risk factors for depression such as obesity, unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, loneliness, and medical conditions. Since diet is a modifiable lifestyle factor, future long-term clinical trials should assess whether nut consumption is an effective strategy for preventing depression in adults."