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The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), which is characterized by a high intake of olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and legumes, can be useful to improve mental health. A recent cross-sectional study showed that the MedDiet could reduce the risk of developing postpartum depression. A total of 3941 women were included in the study, which was carried out during the postpartum period, between 3 and 6 months after delivery. MedDiet adherence was assessed with the validated MedDietScore and postpartum depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, results revealed that a high adherence to the MedDiet was associated with a lower risk of postpartum depression.
Sleep is another key piece in the puzzle of mental health. Notably, several studies suggest an association between MedDiet and sleep. Those who have higher adherence to the MedDiet have been found to have better sleep quality. A new cross-sectional study investigated the association between MedDiet adherence and chronotype in 1936 adults living in Italy. The chronotype is an individual’s natural inclination to sleep or be alert at certain times of the day. The chronotype was assessed through a short version of the morningness-eveningness questionnaire and the adherence to the MedDiet was assessed using a 110-item food frequency questionnaire and the Medi-Lite literature-based Mediterranean adherence score. Intermediate and evening chronotype were associated with a lower adherence to the MedDiet. When analyzed by age subgroups, similar results were found for participants under 50 years of age. Conversely, MedDiet adherence was not associated with chronotype in those over 60 years of age.
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