While you might be a #cleaneater for more – ahem – superficial reasons, chowing down on kale and blueberries might have a bonus effect – protecting you from depression.

Researchers at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain examined the effects of the Mediterranean diet (plant-based foods, whole grains, legumes and olive oil), the Pro-Vegetarian Dietary Pattern (featuring a large proportion of plant-based foods) and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (which focuses on fruit, veg, legumes, nuts, wholegrains and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in salmon). Of the three, the latter proved most effective, though it wasn’t clear why. The study showed that adherence to any of the diets was the real key – the better participants stuck to their plan, the more likely they were to be protected from depression.

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