The vitamin that may fight off depression

Is folate the key to fighting off the black dog?

A simple diet addition may help you beat the blues. Eating folate-rich foods could lower your risk of depression, according to Finnish research.

The scientists say folate, a B vitamin, aids in the production of hormones—like norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin—that regulate mood and increase feelings of happiness. And the vitamin won't just help cheer you up; folate is also associated with decreased risk of Alzheimer's, dementia, heart disease, and stroke, according to the National Institutes of Health.

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Fill up on folate with fortified foods, like spinach (half a cup boiled holds 33 percent of the average guy’s recommended daily intake), avocados (half of one holds about 15 percent), and bananas.

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