It is no secret that maintaining a well-balanced diet is a key component to remain healthy, free of disease and illness. But nutrition is considered a key component to staying mentally heathy as well. A poor diet can increase one's chances of developing depression and anxiety. Typically, mental health disorders are treated with antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety agents, and/or different forms of psychotherapies. Even with these treatments, most of the time they are not enough to prevent or get rid of the problem entirely.
A nutritious diet provides many benefits that support both a healthy physical and mental state. Life will always throw curveballs and cause mental slipups, but these slipups may be preventable by consuming nutrient-rich foods. There have been multiple studies done to show evidence that eating a nutritious diet regularly can positively affect and manage one’s mental and emotional health and wellness.
Julia Turner summarizes important findings in nutritional neuroscience and reviews how foods can affect mood, energy, and cognition. Her research article shows evidence that certain foods, especially Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants can be beneficial to brain health. Julia explains how the brain produces four neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. And how food intake and dietary change can affect the levels and activity of these neurotransmitters. She continues explaining how changes in dietary patterns can cause extreme effects on behavior, eating patterns, sleep, and energy level.
Another relevant article "Brain Food" by Ingrid Kiefer explains additional research that has been done. In this article, Ingrid explains how nutrients in foods- or lack of them- can influence memory, learning, concentration, and decision-making. Research findings express that an intake of complex carbohydrates rather than simple sugars can help stabilize glucose in the blood and guard against mental decline. The author adds how consuming adequate amounts of iron is important to provide vital oxygen to keep the brain mentally keen. She concludes by stating that studies have indicated that protein-packed meals seem to boost attention, while certain fatty acids found in fish supports brain function.
So what does all this research mean? Nutrient deficiency in a diet can increase symptoms of mental disorders. Meaning,
IF YOU NEGLECT YOUR BODY OF NUTRIENTS, YOUR BRAIN WILL ALSO BE
NEGATIVELY IMPACTED!!!
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