Research
Energy balance
Lifestyle factors including Mediterranean-style diet, caloric restriction/fasting, and exercise reduce systemic inflammation (CRP, IL-6) and can mitigate the risk of developing depression, particularly in those with existing depressive symptoms.
Adopting a Mediterranean-style diet, practicing intermittent fasting, or engaging in regular exercise can lower inflammation (CRP, IL-6). This reduction in inflammation may help prevent depression or improve outcomes for those already depressed, especially if they have high baseline inflammation.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Prospective studies suggest that healthier diets offer some protection against the development of both depressive symptoms and depressive disorders... Caloric restriction produces powerful anti-inflammatory effects... intermittent fasting or time-restricted feeding can reduce inflammation.
Why this rating
Supported by prospective studies, RCTs (Mediterranean diet), and observational data on fasting/exercise.
Source
Inflammation: Depression Fans the Flames and Feasts on the Heat
Janice K. Kiecolt‐Glaser et al. · American Journal of Psychiatry · 2015
DOI 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020152
narrative_reviewCited 848×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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