STUDY: Vegetarians TWICE As Likely To Suffer From Depression Over Meat-Eaters

Where’s the beef? A new study concludes that if you want to avoid being depressed you had better find the beef. The report said vegetarians are almost twice as likely to suffer from some form of depression when compared to those who consume meat in their diet.

The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, said that vegetarian participants, when scored, had a higher average rate of depression compared to meat-eaters. Vegetarians also tended to eat more nuts that have a higher amount of omega-6 fatty acids, which has been linked to an increased risk of mental health issues.

Scientists at Bristol University found that vegetarians were more likely to develop depression due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can negatively impact their mental health, Fox 11 reported. Researchers said the vegetarians’ diet was lower in vitamin B12, which is naturally found in animal products, including meat, eggs, poultry, and dairy. A B12 deficiency can cause mental problems, including depression and behavioral changes. source

“Another potential contributing factor is that lower intakes of seafood are thought to be associated with greater risk of depressive symptoms,” researchers wrote.

Those who had been vegetarian for longer were more likely to develop symptoms of depression over time, the study found.

On the other hand, eating a primarily red-meat diet has been associated with increased health risks. Factoring in prior studies, being a vegetarian may actually make you live longer, you just may not be as happy.

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