Researchers analyzed the mental health records and dietary habits of 1000 men and women aged 70 or older. The results showed that those who eat tomatoes two to six times a week are 46 percent less susceptible to depression than those who consume the vegetable less than once a week. Daily consumption of tomatoes reduces the chances of developing depression by 52 percent.
However, other fruits and vegetables do not provide such benefits for mental health, the research showed. Eating carrots, pumpkins and onions will have no or negligible effect on your mental health. This does not mean that you should stop eating these vegetables, they in any case have a positive effect on physical health.
As for tomatoes, they are particularly rich in antioxidants that help cleanse the body and prevent disease. Tomatoes are a particularly good source of lycopene, which gives them their red color and has been linked to a reduced risk of heart attack and prostate cancer.
These benefits of tomatoes for mental health have been investigated by Chinese and Japanese scientists who believe that lycopene has a positive effect on our mental health by reducing oxidative stress and damage to healthy brain cells.
Approximately 20 percent of people suffer from depression at some point in their lives. Women are especially prone to depression, or at least more prone than men. Older people are especially prone to depression due to loneliness, frequent inflammation and other diseases, writes Klix.
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