Hello and welcome to the Nutrition Facts Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Michael Greger.

Now I know I've made a name for myself and explaining how not to do certain things.

Just look at my books. How not to die in my upcoming book, How Not to Diet.

But what I want to share with you is actually quite positive.

What's the best way to live a healthy life? Here are some answers.

Today we look at research that shows the effects of certain foods and nutrients on mental illnesses.

And we begin with the question if depression can be induced with pro-inflammatory drugs,

which might an anti-inflammatory diet be effective in preventing and treating mood disorders.

Let's look at the facts.

Depression affects more than 150 million people worldwide, making it a leading cause of losing

healthy years of life as a result of disability.

In fact, by 2020, depression may be the second leading cause of healthy years of life lost,

second only to heart disease. Why is depression so common?

Well, it has said nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.

But why would we evolve to get depressed? Depression poses a baffling evolutionary puzzle.

If it has such negative effects, but yet it remains so common,

inheritable, meaning a big chunk of risk is passed through our genes.

So there must be some kind of adaptive benefit.

Otherwise, presumably, would have been naturally selected against.

Maybe depression is an evolutionary strategy for defense against infection.

Infection has been the leading cause of mortality throughout human history.

The average life expectancy was 25 and it was not uncommon for half our kids to die.

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