A landmark study published Tuesday in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that strict adherence to a Mediterranean diet reduces symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder by up to 33 percent. The randomized controlled trial followed 2,400 participants across 12 medical centers for 18 months.
Researchers found that participants who followed the Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, fish, whole grains, nuts, and vegetables, showed measurable improvements in anxiety scores within just eight weeks. The benefits were most pronounced among participants aged 30 to 55 who had not previously been prescribed anxiety medication.
Lead researcher Dr. Amara Singh of Johns Hopkins University noted that the gut-brain connection likely plays a central role. The anti-inflammatory properties of the diet appear to reduce neuroinflammation, which has been increasingly linked to mood and anxiety disorders in recent years.
