Risk of Depression 50 Times lower in Japan

IRISH people are 50 times more likely to develop depression than the Japanese because we don’t eat enough fish, a conference was told in Dublin yesterday.

Professor Michael Crawford, director of the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, at London Metropolitan University, suggested that dependence on a meat and wheat-based diet is resulting in a significant rise in brain ill-health in the Western world.

"Currently, just over 50% of the Irish population eats fish at least once a week," said Prof Crawford, a Bord Iascaigh Mhara-sponsored keynote speaker at the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute conference.

His key message to the Irish is to eat more fish and substantially lessen their risk of developing mental health problems.