Consuming any kind of citrus fruit may reduce the risk of depression, according to a new prospective study.
The findings suggest that citrus alters the gut microbiota, specifically by supporting a beneficial gut bacterium called Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii), which is associated with a reduced risk of depression. The study also indicates that flavonoids—compounds found in the peel and juice that give fruits their color and flavor—play a central role in this protective effect.
Dr. Raaj Mehta, instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, attending physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, and corresponding author of the study, told The Epoch Times via email that eating citrus boosts the abundance of F. prausnitzii, helping regulate neurotransmitters involved in depression….