The Daily News – June 16, 2025

Interesting question for today. Could an orange a day keep depression away? Well, let’s just jump right into it. A new study published in microbiome followed over 32,000 middle aged women. It found a lower risk of developing depression among those who ate at least one medium sized orange per day. Now, you might be asking, how much did it lower the risk? Well, the lead author of the study said, we found that eating one medium orange a day may lower the risk of developing depression by about 20%. So why would this be the case? Well, the answer might be found in our gut. Researchers found that citrus consumption was linked to higher levels of a beneficial gut bacterium, which has been shown to help lower inflammation and support immune function. Past studies suggest that lower levels of this bacterium are associated with a higher risk of depression. One doctor explained that the bacterium influences neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, the brain chemicals responsible for mood regulation. He added that while more research is needed, this study provides a possible explanation for how diet and mental health are closely connected. Now, of course, no single food can cure or prevent depression, but experts say that this study adds to growing evidence that what we eat affects how we feel and with benefits to the gut immune system. And now possibly mood, oranges might be one of the easiest and most delicious ways to support mental wellbeing. So now that you know this, will you be eating more oranges? Well, let us know in the comments below. And if you found this information helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell. Thank you so much for joining us on the Daily News.