According to a study, vegetarians are twice as likely to experience depressive episodes in comparison with meat-eaters. new study.
Based on data from Brazil, the study chimes with earlier researchHigher rates of DepressionThese people are those who forgo meat. This new study indicates that the link exists regardless of nutritional intake.
It can seem easy to link a diet with specific health problems, and then assume that the former is causing them via a nutritional deficiency.
The new analysis was published in Journal of Affective DisordersThe, considered a variety of nutritional factors including total calorie intake and protein intake as well as the level of food processing.
This indicates that vegetarians’ higher levels of depression are not due to their nutritional intake.
What could explain the relationship between vegetarianism, depression, and other non-nutritional factors? Is there an outside mechanism that causes the former to be more nutritious? Or could it be something entirely different?
It is possible that depression can lead to people becoming more likely to eat vegetarians rather than vice versa. It is possible that people who are depressed may become more likely to eat vegetarians than the other way around. Depression symptomsIt can also include guilt-based feelings and rumination about negative thoughts.
If we assume that both depressed and not-depressed people will encounter the disturbing truth about factory farming and slaughterhouses, then it is possible that people who are depressed are more likely than others to dwell on these thoughts and feel guilty for creating them.
This is why the depressed vegetarian may not be wrong to think so.
Despite depression being sometimes characterized as having unrealistically negative perceptions of the world, Evidence is available to support these assertions.People suffering from mild to moderate depression tend to have more realistic expectations about what the future holds and more realistic views of their abilities and role.
In this case, the answer is yes. Animal cruelty in meat production. Consumer demand for cheaper meat is the main reason.
A vegetarian diet could cause depression in addition to nutritional reasons. It is possible that a vegetarian diet does not contain enough ‘happy nutrients’, and this could lead to depression.
A vegetarian diet can affect relationships with others, participation in social activities, and may sometimes be linked to other issues. Teasing and other forms of social ostracism.
The study was based on survey data taken in Brazil, an important country. Famous for its meat-heavy diet. Some survey data points to a In Brazil, vegetarianism has seen a dramatic increase in the last few years.It has increased from 8% in 2012 to 16% in 2018.
However, the recent paper surveyed over 14,000 Brazilians and found just 82 vegetarians – scarcely more than half a per cent.
We have to wonder if there is a similar link between vegetarianism & depression in India and other countries where vegetarianism has become more common.
Even more important, the The UK sees a rise in vegetarianismWill we see this relationship deteriorate over time with other countries?
It is possible that neither depression nor vegetarianism can cause the other. However, both may be associated with a third factor. It could be any combination of experiences or characteristics that are related to both vegetarianism, and depression.
Take, for example: Women are more likely to become vegetarians than men., To experience depression. The Brazilian study, however, did not consider sex, thus excluding this particular third variable.
Not examined
While this variable was not studied, it is likely to be related to both vegetarianism as well as depression. The prevention of cruelty to animals must be the Most frequently cited reasonVegetarians can choose to eat vegetarian.
Documentaries like DominionAnd EarthlingsIt is difficult to describe films that portray the cruelty of the meat industry as “feel-good” movies. This kind of media can make it easy to see how someone would become vegetarian, and even more depressed if they are consuming too much.
There could be many reasons why vegetarianism can cause depression. The new study shows that depression is not caused by vegetarian nutrition.
The vegetarian social experience might be a factor in depression. Depression may also increase the likelihood that someone will become vegetarian. Or, both depression and vegetarianism may be due to exposure to images from the violent meat industry.
Chris BryantDepartment of Psychology, Honorary Research Associate University of Bath
This article was republished by The ConversationUnder a Creative Commons License Please read the Original article.
