Melatonin-rich foods will protect against obesity and melancholy

We can often seek salvation from insomnia and bad mood in the pharmacy by buying expensive dietary supplements. However, nature has already taken care of us by hiding a powerful anti-stress component in the most common food. An analysis of the habits of thousands of people has shown that a well-designed menu can not only restore mental balance, but also protect the waist from extra centimeters. Experts from Brazil decided to test how the daily diet affects a person’s mental and physical condition. More than eight thousand university graduates took part in the large-scale CUME+ project, who reported in detail on their lifestyle and the contents of the plates. The authors were interested in whether naturally occurring melatonin could work as effectively as synthetic analogues.

Melatonin-rich foods will protect against obesity and melancholy
The data turned out to be very interesting: volunteers who consumed sufficient amounts of this substance with food were much less likely to suffer from overweight and severe emotional declines. Statistics confirmed that the risk of developing depression and obesity among fans of the right foods is noticeably lower, and in order to achieve the effect it was not necessary to eat them with kilograms — regularity and moderation were important. Surprisingly, the main sources of melatonin were not exotic fruits at all, but quite simple things. The leaders of the list were coffee, lentils, beans and rice. It was these products, available to everyone, that provided the body with the necessary support, helping to fight inflammation and adjust the internal clock without the side effects inherent in medications. It is important to note that this effect does not work everywhere. The diet did not have much effect on serious problems such as type 2 diabetes, apnea or hypertension. In addition, the principle of “the more, the better” did not work here.: the maximum benefit for the psyche and figure was brought by average doses of the substance, while extremely high consumption did not provide additional bonuses. Fans of such a diet tended to eat healthier overall: they ate less saturated fat and cholesterol, leaning on fiber and complex carbohydrates. This suggests that melatonin in food serves as a kind of marker of a high-quality diet, which in combination helps a person stay slim and cheerful without resorting to strict restrictions.

Published

January, 2026

Category

Medicine

Duration of reading

1-2 minutes

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Source

Scientific Journal Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Article: The Content of Dietary Melatonin in 119 Food Items and Its Relationship With Chronic Diseases

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