Fruit and nuts 'cut depression'

A Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, nuts, whole grains and fish can fight depression, new research suggests.

Scientists from Gran Canaria monitored more than 10,000 volunteers to see how closely they followed the diet, based on nine components, also including high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, vegetables, cereals and low levels of meat.

After 4.4 years they identified new cases of depression in 156 men and 324 women. Individuals who followed the diet closely were more than 30 per cent less likely to suffer.

The diet is believed to alleviate problems which may be linked to depression including damage to cells by harmful oxygen molecules.