Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study? - PaleoHacks.com

Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-03-21T20:09:44Z

Ok, so here's an interesting study -- Curious about what people think.

Red Meat Consumption and Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Here's a summary link for folk who don't have access to the actual article, since the journal doesn't have an abstract up.

Answer by HoosierTodd for Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-03-21T21:04:00Z

Red meat makes ME happy. I've never agreed with a study more and I've only read the title.

Answer by CaveDad for Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-03-21T21:11:18Z

Sadly, the researchers have no idea why.

Hmmm.. could it be that it is healthy for you and healthy people are happy people? Nah..we all know red meat will kill you.

Answer by primallykosher for Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-03-21T21:23:58Z

I'm going to have to save this study. And another excuse to get moody vegans to eat some pot roast. Buhahahaha!

Answer by JRAC for Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-03-21T21:39:44Z

It has as much scientific merit as the red meat and cancer study.

Stop supporting tripe; like Wheat Belly too...

Answer by AndrewK for Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-03-21T21:51:06Z

The study was based on food frequency questionnaire responses. Even if you're willing to look beyond that, the study also said people who ate too much meat were more likely to suffer from a depressive disorder than people who ate the recommended amount.

Answer by Eric S for Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-03-21T23:25:09Z

Mainstream (non-paleo) people tend to associate red meat with just protein and fat, but they overlook its impressive nutrient profile. A 1/2 lb sirloin steak yields almost a full day's RDA of vitamin b6, vitamin b12, niacin, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc. It also has a fair amount of phosphorus, riboflavin, and thiamin.

Emily Deans writes:

"Nutritionally, CoQ10, carnitine, B-vitamin, and selenium deficiencies can also cause mitochondrial dysfunction directly. Mitochondria desperately need these micronutrients to do their work efficiently.

Symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction can be non-specific, but the cognitive symptoms are very similar to those found in depression, including impairments in attention and executive function and memory."

Here is a link to an article from her about zinc and depression:

http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/2010/07/zinc-and-depression.html

Depression and b vitamins:

http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/2010/08/depression-and-b-vitamins.html

Selenium and depression:

http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/2010/11/selenium-and-depression.html

Dietary fat intake and depression:

http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/2011/01/dietary-fat-intake-and-depression-risk.html

And cholesterol and depression:

http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/2011/09/intriguing-links-between-depression-and.html

So, even though the methodology of the study isn't very good, the link between red meat and happiness makes complete sense.

UPDATE: Robb Wolf just posted an article by a guest author about the relationship between nutrition and depression:

http://www.robbwolf.com/2012/03/23/nutrition-depression/

Answer by Nemesis for Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-03-21T23:52:24Z

I think we need to take this study with a grain of salt before we all hop on the confirmation bias wagon ;)

Answer by Rick for Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-03-22T00:03:56Z

Given Eric S' post, I thought to compare the nutrient profile of the more affordable ground beef (90% here) to sirloin steak.

NUTRIENT CUT RDA DV% [3 ounces] B6: Ground 15 Steak 30

B12: Ground 35 Steak 20

Selenium: Ground 26 Steak 36

Zinc: Ground 38 Steak 33

Pretty surprising, huh?

I hope the source is trustworthy. And this was clearly not grass-fed beef based on the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Ground: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/beef-products/6197/2 Steak: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/beef-products/3798/2 [Note that the steak I selected was "Beef, top sirloin, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, broiled"]

Answer by Mikey for Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-07-27T06:42:26Z

My only problem, going from vegetarian to carnivore again is the whole Cattle Slaughter industry. It's hard eating red-meat and such, when I know how brutal the killing floors can be. Systematic slaughter seems so much worse compared to going out and hunting your own food like our ancestors. That and the fact that there's so much pollution from the cattle industry.

So I eat red-meat for its health benefits, but i'm still a bit torn because of the ethical reasons.

Answer by miked for Red meat reduces depression? What do you think of this study?

2012-07-27T14:48:33Z

It's a crap observational study. Just as crappy as the ones that tell us every slice of bacon will take 9 minutes off our life. The best is to ignore all crap studies so that they eventually go away. Picking and choosing the ones that support your conclusions is bad from either side.