What the data say
Across dozens of observational studies, people with depression have lower blood folate on average than those without. Folate is needed to make the methyl groups that build serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline. Trials adding folate to antidepressant treatment show a modest improvement in response rates, especially in those who started low.
None of this means greens treat depression. It means folate status is a piece of the picture that is cheap to fix and often ignored.
Why juice greens rather than cook them
Folate is water-soluble and heat-sensitive; boiling spinach can lose half of it into the water. Pressing raw greens keeps almost all of it. Our Mental Wellness recipe uses spinach, romaine and parsley — parsley is unusually folate-dense — with green apple and lemon to make it something you look forward to.
We also include a small piece of raw beetroot, both for its own folate and for the betaine that supports the same methylation cycle.
- Spinach, romaine, parsley and asparagus are the top juiceable folate sources
- Add lemon: vitamin C protects folate from oxidising in the glass
- Drink the same day — folate declines noticeably after 24 hours refrigerated
A word on MTHFR and supplements
Some people carry gene variants that reduce how efficiently they convert folic acid. Food folate — the kind in greens — sidesteps much of that problem, which is one reason we prefer it to fortified sources. If you are on antidepressants, tell the desk; there are no interactions with greens, but we will tailor the recipe around anything else you take.
A daily raw-greens juice is one of the simplest ways to correct low folate. It supports mood care — and belongs alongside it, not instead of it.
Reviewed by the Nourishjuice nutrition panel. Wellness guidance only — not a substitute for medical advice. Discuss changes with your clinician, especially if you take medication.