A climate-friendly diet might protect your brain by slowing cellular aging
Eating a climate-friendly diet packed with plants might do more than protect the environment. A large study found that strict adherence to sustainable eating habits is associated with a lower risk of stroke, depression, and anxiety.
A plant-based, environmentally-friendly diet may help protect the brain from conditions like depression, anxiety, and stroke, according to a recent study. Researchers found that individuals who closely followed a diet rich in plant-based foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, experienced a lower risk of developing several neurological and mental health issues over a twelve-year period.
This diet, known as the Planetary Health Diet, also helps preserve brain health by potentially slowing down the body's cellular aging process. The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, analyzed data from 69,370 British adults and found that those who adhered to the diet had a 12% lower risk of stroke, a 13% lower risk of depression, and a 13% lower risk of anxiety compared to those with lower adherence scores.
The protective effect appeared to be strongest up to a certain threshold, with scores around 86 points on the diet index offering the best protection against depression, anxiety, and multiple brain conditions. While slowing cellular aging was found to contribute to the brain benefits, the exact mechanisms behind the diet's protective effects remain unclear.
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