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Tomorrow will save tomatoes from depression
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Scientists from Tianjin Medical University found out how to reduce the risk of depression. It turns out that the recipe is quite simple - it's enough to eat regular tomatoes several times a week.
The results of the research of specialists are published in the pages of the scientific journal "Journal of Affective Disorders".
The researchers analyzed the mental health and dietary habits of nearly a thousand men and women aged 70 years and older. The results show that those study participants who eat tomatoes two to six times a week, 46% less likely to suffer from spleen. And those who ate tomatoes every day had even better effect - the risk of depression developed in these subjects decreased by as much as 52%.
Specialists emphasize that other vegetables and fruits do not have such properties. Cabbage, carrots, pumpkins, onions are certainly useful products necessary for the health of our body, but they have no influence on psychological stability.
Up to 20% of the world's population at some point in their lives suffer from such a disease as depression. At the same time, women are prone to such conditions more often than representatives of the strong half of humanity. Also at risk are the elderly, who experience frequent mood swings due to loneliness and poor health.
Tomatoes are rich in antioxidant chemicals that can protect against certain diseases. It is lycopene, a carotenoid pigment that determines the color of the fetus, and there is that substance that can protect a person from depression. Previous studies show that lycopene is also able to reduce the risk of prostate cancer and heart disease.
Experts say that it is impossible to say exactly what the mechanism of lycopene action is, because it is not completely clear whether it affects the human mind directly, or whether it is effective only in case of depression caused by serious diseases, for example, cancer. However, positive results are still on the face. Scientists believe that a tomato diet can become a preventive remedy for depressive symptoms.