An apple a day keeps the doctor away, or so says a recent study by Spanish researchers.
Namely, the study—which was published in the journal Cell Metabolism in May 2022—provides tangible evidence that food not only influences our physical but also our mental health. And we have the amino acid “proline” to thank for.
The Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI) and the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in Barcelona, Spain, joined forces to find the connection between proline consumption and depression.
As you already know, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and play an important role in our bodies—such as forming collagen, which is the case with proline.
However, our bodies cannot synthesize all the amino acids we need and proline is no exception. As a result, the only way to get them is through foods.
Grass-fed beef, egg yolks, and gelatine are just some of the foods rich in amino acids, proline in particular, that we consume on a regular basis. Yet, here’s the catch:
According to the study, people with higher concentrations of proline in their bloodstream were more susceptible to depression; the crippling kind.
But there’s more to it than that.
Our intestinal bacteria (microbiota) also play a crucial role during the metabolic process. For one, the study confirmed that people with a rich stomach flora (particularly the one that metabolizes proline) were less affected by this amino acid.
Conversely, people with fewer of these bacteria showed more signs of depression.
The results of this study could be of immense help to over 300 million people around the globe battling depression. And the solution to all this is a simple transition to a more vegan-based diet rich in vegan protein (in place of meat and animal products).
Seeing how as much as 30% of people with severe depression don’t respond to medication, this could be the cure they were looking for.
