]Eating an orange a day may lower a person's depression risk by 20%, according to a study published in Microbiome. That might be because citrus stimulates the growth of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii), a type of bacteria found in the human gut, to influence production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine—two biological molecules known to elevate mood.

Summary

A Harvard-led study published in Microbiome found that eating one orange a day may reduce depression risk by 20%.

The research links citrus consumption to increased levels of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a gut bacterium associated with higher serotonin and dopamine production, which can boost mood.

The findings were confirmed in both women and men. While not a replacement for antidepressants, citrus may play a role in mental health strategies.

Researchers hope to conduct clinical trials to further explore the connection between diet and mental health.

  • witty_username@feddit.nlEnglish
    61·
    2 days ago

    Lol isn’t this simply confounded by the ultra Arnold Schwarzenegger level of effort it takes to prepare an orange?
    I.e. it takes a very motivated and determined person to peel an orange and those people tend to be less depressed

    • iAvicenna@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      1 day ago

      Yea it is more possibly a correlation turned to a causation by skillful science communication

    • MunkyNutts@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      Simple way to eat them, cut from pole to pole into quarters, take a quarter, bite down close to the rind/peel, and then peel the rind off from one pole to the other while still biting the fruit, then nibble off the remaining fruit left on the peel. It’s a little messy with the juice, but so much easier and quicker to eat.