April 15, 2025

Citrus & Your Mood: How Oranges Can Fight Depression

10 minutes

Story at-a-glance

Depression affects more than 280 million people worldwide. Many patients do not fully respond to first-line medications or experience adverse side effects. This makes dietary influences on mood increasingly important
Regular citrus consumption is linked to a 22% reduced depression risk by increasing beneficial gut bacteria like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which supports neurotransmitter production
Citrus contains naringenin, formononetin, and hesperidin — plant compounds that nourish gut bacteria and influence the biochemical pathway responsible for neurotransmitter balance
Ultraprocessed food consumption increases depression risk by 49%, with artificial sweeteners and processed snacks being particularly harmful to gut health and brain function
Improving gut health requires removing vegetable oils, reducing endocrine disruptors and electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, optimizing carbohydrate intake, and considering beneficial bacteria supplements

...more

By Dr. Mercola

4.6

14671,467 ratings

April 15, 2025

10 minutes

Story at-a-glance

Depression affects more than 280 million people worldwide. Many patients do not fully respond to first-line medications or experience adverse side effects. This makes dietary influences on mood increasingly important
Regular citrus consumption is linked to a 22% reduced depression risk by increasing beneficial gut bacteria like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which supports neurotransmitter production
Citrus contains naringenin, formononetin, and hesperidin — plant compounds that nourish gut bacteria and influence the biochemical pathway responsible for neurotransmitter balance
Ultraprocessed food consumption increases depression risk by 49%, with artificial sweeteners and processed snacks being particularly harmful to gut health and brain function
Improving gut health requires removing vegetable oils, reducing endocrine disruptors and electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, optimizing carbohydrate intake, and considering beneficial bacteria supplements

...more