In an exhilarating new study, scientists found that simple changes to diet translated to big improvements in mood.

For this three-week, clinical trial, 76 university students with poor diets and moderate to severe depression symptoms were randomly assigned to one of two groups—either the “diet change” group or the “regular diet” group. The “diet change” group received brief instructions on improving the quality of their diets via a 13-minute video they could re-watch at will.

They also received a container of healthy food and $60 for future grocery shopping. In the video, they were specifically guided to reduce processed foods and increase the intake of fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds, fish, olive oil, turmeric, and cinnamon. (I call this the Happiness Diet!)

The “regular diet” group received no dietary guidance. At the end of the three-week trial, the results were telling. The “diet change” group maintained a healthier diet, and their scores for depression symptoms completely normalized. They also exhibited a reduction in their anxiety scores.

In striking contrast, the “regular diet” groups’ depression scores remained unchanged—staying in the moderate to severe range. Three months later, the small percentage (21%) of study subjects that maintained the healthy eating changes also maintained their mood improvements.

Although this was a small trial, its results are none the less remarkable. There is NOTHING ELSE out there that can directly impact depression symptoms so quickly and with NO side effects. Hurray for healthy eating!