Oranges, exercise may lower depression risk: study

Depression is a condition that affects an estimated 5% of the world’s adult population and the symptoms that come with the disease can negatively impact a person’s life. 

However, lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity can lower the risk depression poses. 

Over the last few months, researchers have highlighted how dietary choices, exercises and medication used for other chronic conditions might impact the risk of developing depression.

Drugs like Ozempic are linked to lower depression risk. The condition is linked to a number of physical illnesses including diabetes. Data suggests that diabetic people are twice as likely as people without diabetes to also be diagnosed with depression, according to Medical News Today. 

Moreover, oranges may lower risk of the disease by 20%. As established earlier, diet plays an important role in keeping depression at a distance and a study published in the journal Microbiome in November 2024 has delved a bit deeper in the specifics. 

The study concluded that people who eat an orange every day may lower their risk of depression by 20%. 

Lead author of the study, MD Raaj Mehta stated in a press release that just “one medium orange a day” can keep depression at bay. 

Furthermore, moderate or vigorous exercise can also help in lowering the risk of depression and other brain conditions. Research due to be presented in early April 2025 suggests that moderate-to-vigorous exercise in linked to a lower chance of developing a range of neuropsychiatric diseases such as dementia and depression.