A surprising side effect of eating more fiber, according to science
A new study finds a potential link between fiber consumption and depression in women.
Women are twice as likely than men to havedepressionand researchers speculate that regular hormone fluctuations can be one of the main attributable factors. Another possible factor? Fiber socket.
New search published inMenopausethe newspaper ofNorth American Menopause Society (NAMS), has found an interesting link between fiber consumption and the probability of depression in women. The study examined nearly 6,000 front and postmenopausal women to discern iffiber would have an effect on their mental health. As it turns out, it does. (In touch:Vitamin doctors exhort everyone to take right now)
"We believe that the most important conclusion of our study is that the consumption of dietary fiber was inversely associated with depression in premenopausal but non-postmenopausal women," Senior Author Yunsun Kim, MD, Family Medicine Resident, University Chung Hospital -Ang, Seoul, South Korea, saysMedical News Medscape.
In premenopausal women, researchers have discovered that the consumption of food fiber washigher among those without depression compared to those who have depression. However, the most surprising part of the results is that there was no correlation between the two menopausal women. The reason for this can be due to their lower estrogen levels.
Estrogen plays a role in equilibriumIntestinal microorganismsAnd the fiber helps to improve both the richness and diversity of intestinal microbiota, because the study emphasizes. The fibers may not have the same effects on the gut-brain interaction in women with exhausted estrogen levels, which probably explains why it did not seem to be a correlation between fiber and depression in menopausal women.
However, something that is not specified in the observational study is what is called the management of the association. More specifically, it is difficult to know if women with better mental health also have a healthier diet and consume more fiber, or that women have better mental health, partly because they eat more fibers.
Dr. Kim also shared withMedical News Medscape That she hoped this study will serve as a basis for future research. Depression is a very common mental health condition that has been well studied, but as in most conditions, more research is always needed.
In the meantime, for women who are still menstruated, ensuring that your fiber consumption is tied with daily recommendations could benefit your mental health. According to the most from the USDARecent dietary guidelinesWomen aged 14 to 50 should aim to consume between 25 and 28 grams of fiber each day.
For more health news, make sure youSubscribe to our newsletter And do not miss the17 foods that make your depression worse and your anxiety.