Studies show that following such a diet doesn’t just benefit the body, it can impact mental health too.
“There’s growing evidence that dietary patterns in adolescence can influence mental health risk – diets high in ultra-processed foods and low in whole plant foods are associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety, while more Mediterranean-style patterns appear protective,” Amati says.
The Mediterranean diet is high in vegetables, legumes, nuts and olive oil, with smaller amounts of fish, dairy and poultry.
A Mediterranean diet may also benefit men and women wishing to start a family, which often happens in a person’s 20s, 30s and 40s. Studies show that the Mediterranean diet can positively influence fertility, while a Western diet – which tends to be high in saturated fat, meat and white carbohydrates – is correlated with both female and male infertility. For women, studies also show that a diet rich in folate may help with fertility treatment. Foods high in folate include dark, leafy greens, sprouts, broccoli and chickpeas.
READ MORE ON THE NEXT PAGE…
