Eat This, Slash Your Depression Risk By Up To 20%

Want a natural mood-booster that just happens to be rather tasty as well? Look no further than the seafood counter at your local market: New research in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health suggests that loading up on fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, and pollock makes you less likely to become depressed. (Are you just bummed out or depressed? Take our depression quiz to find out.)
And if you really want to feel spectacular, opt for fatty fish, which a separate study found so effective at fighting mood disorders that they stopped a study on manic depression five months earlier than anticipated. 

In the instance of the first study, women who regularly ate fish had a 16% lower risk and men had a 20% lower risk of depression than people who ate less or no fish. Because it's an observational study, researchers can't pinpoint exactly why the association exists, but they do have a few ideas on how the mood-boosting magic happens. 
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For one, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish may affect the brain in ways that modify levels of dopamine and serotonin, both of which are neurotransmitters thought to be involved in depression, says study co-author Dongfeng Zhang. Or, high quality protein, vitamins and minerals could have a protective effect. And of course, fish eaters may just tend to eat a healthier diet in general and exercise more—both factors that are associated with reduced risk of depression. (Here are 12 fish you should stay away from.)
As far as the second study, the 9-trial of bipolar disorder (manic depression) was terminated by researchers after only 4 months because omega-3s—found in fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines—were so effective at smoothing out moods. And other research suggests you can reap the mood boosting perks with as few as two servings of fish per week. 

Fish aren't your thing? No problem. There are a whole slew of satisfying foods—from apricots and yogurt to walnuts and chocolate—that  can legitimately lift your spirits. And if just thinking about winter gets you down, consider loading up now. 

Source:MSN