People who consume predominantly plant-based diets might be at greater risk for depression.

Research has suggested that vegans and vegetarians might have higher rates of depression. A causal link has not been established.

Research has suggested that vegans and vegetarians might have higher rates of depression. A causal link has not been established.According to 18 studies reviewed in a paper by the University of Southern Indiana, people who avoid meat in their diet have higher rates of depression and anxiety. All of the studies were conducted to determine the relation between the consumption of meat and mental health, and some of them showed that those who avoided meat consumption had significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety.

However, the paper neither suggests that eating meat improves mental health, nor that avoiding eating meat causes mental illness. The paper was also funded by the Beef Checkoff through the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Essentially, further research is needed to establish if there is a link between depression and plant-based diets.