Fasting diet shows promise for depression in bowel disease

This study tested whether a low-calorie, plant-based diet that mimics fasting could reduce depressive symptoms in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 42 adults with mild-to-moderate depression and IBD followed either the fasting-mimicking diet or a calorie-sufficient plant-based diet for three 5-day cycles over three months. Researchers measured changes in mood, gut microbes, and immune function to see if targeting the gut could improve mental health.