A new study has found seven healthy habits a person can implement into their lives that can drastically impact their mood and help them fight depression.
The study, published in the journal Nature, found that those who implement the seven healthy habits identified are significantly less likely to suffer from a depressive episode, even if they are genetically more susceptible. .
To find the link between lifestyle habits and depression, researchers used Mendelian randomization, a process that involves using genetics to study behavior.
The study used data from the UK Biobank database, with more than 300,000 individuals' information being processed.
Those who maintained at least five of the seven healthy habits were found to cut their risk of depression by 57%, according to the study.
As for the behaviors, researchers found the following lifestyle habits played a role in fighting depression:
—Getting 7-9 hours of sleep per night on average
—Having more physical activity in your daily routine
—Eating a balanced diet of plants, lean protein, and whole grains
—Limiting alcohol intake and not smoking
—Reducing screen time
—Cultivating friendship
The study’s author, Barbara Sahakian, is a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist from the University of Cambridge. She shared with NPR that having good lifestyle behaviors can cut your chances of depression almost in half.
“I think the biggest surprise is that if you have a favorable lifestyle, you can reduce the risk of your getting depression by 57%, which is really quite a massive amount,” Sahakian said.