The possibility that foods might affect depression and perhaps in a favorable way if they're the

right foods came to our attention as a bit of an accident. We were doing a research study with

Geico insurance. So we instituted a program at Geico of a vegan diet both in the cafeteria and

a weekly class for anybody who wanted to actually jump in. And so although the purpose of it was

to look at weight changes and to see how people's diabetes might improve, we saw something else.

And that was depression started to lift.

Welcome to the Exam Room Podcast brought to you by the Physicians Committee. Hi, I am the Weight

Lost Champion Chuck Carroll. Thank you so very much for raising your Health IQ with us.

This is episode 75 of season 4, number 270 overall. Let's ponder this today. Could what you're

eating make you depressed even if it's a so-called comfort food? We're about to explore the

science of how you feel after you eat and how that depends on what you eat. Explaining the

connection of food and mood for us today and answering your questions is Dr. Neal Barnard.

You know, the World Health Organization estimates that 5% of the entire global adult population

is affected by depression while tens of millions of others will feel the burden of seasonal

effective disorder during the fall and winter months. So we'll be opening up the doctor's mail back

and Dr. Barnard will be answering your questions and hopefully bringing some relief.

Some questions in the mail back today are what are the best foods to fight depression

and can a vegan diet help and will junk food help depression or make the symptoms worse? And

why do we crave junk food when we're depressed and perhaps most importantly, what are the most

important nutrients for mental health? All of those questions and many more will be answered.

But first, I want to take a moment to tell you about the Gregory J. Rider Memorial Fund.

Their support of the Exam Room Podcast and the Physicians Committee is helping to raise our

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