| New research is uncovering interesting links between | | | | high in Omega 3's and heavy on vegetables and fruits |
| diet and mental health. What they are discovering | | | | that provide vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. |
| about how what we eat affects our mental state is | | | | However, researchers also noted that much of the |
| thought provoking and may be opening new avenues | | | | way our food is processed and farmed today is |
| for treating certain forms of stress, depression and | | | | actually stripping those nutrients out of the foods we |
| similar illnesses. | | | | eat. Our growing desire for quick foods is also |
| The old saying that "you are what you eat" may have | | | | contributing to a diet high in fats and low in essential |
| some truth when it comes to your mental state. | | | | nutrition. |
| Science has been taking a harder look at how the | | | | In order to have a proper diet and mental health |
| foods we eat interact with our brain. While there is still | | | | support we as a society need to address both our |
| much to learn about how diet and mental health | | | | personal eating habits and the larger issues of farming |
| interact, what has been uncovered is beginning to help | | | | and food processing. We need to push for changes in |
| some. | | | | the way foods are handled so they can be nutrient |
| The BBC ran some articles earlier this year that | | | | rich. We also need to look inward and see how our |
| summarized some of the findings reported recently. | | | | eating habits are potentially setting ourselves up for |
| The report noted how a number of cases where | | | | failure of both body and mind. |
| mental health issues were addressed by a good | | | | If we can't get what we need from our foods, then |
| mental health diet showed better responses than | | | | there are supplements that can provide the necessary |
| when drugs or counseling were used. One man in | | | | vitamins and minerals our minds need. Some |
| particular had been battling depression for over 40 | | | | manufacturers are even creating supplements that |
| years using prescription drugs and therapy to no avail. | | | | target the brain and provide other nutrients like |
| However, after doing some reading at the library on | | | | huperzine A, choline and the like that help support |
| diet and health he made changes to his diet and the | | | | mental function and the production of |
| depression was resolved. | | | | neurotransmitters. It may be beneficial to incorporate |
| Scientists are still working on how various nutrients | | | | some of these into the diet in addition to changing the |
| affect the brain, but what they have found is already | | | | foods you eat. |
| being put to use. For example, studies have found a | | | | A mental health diet is really the same thing as a heart |
| link between low levels of Omega 3 fatty acids and | | | | healthy diet or a diet to lower risk of cancer. It is taking |
| depression in a number of people. Changing their diet | | | | ownership of what we eat in order to ensure our |
| to incorporate fish and other sources of Omega 3's | | | | bodies continue to function well. Some people are |
| had a positive effect. | | | | more worried about making sure their car doesn't |
| Other studies on diet and mental health looked at age | | | | break down than they are about their physical and |
| related mental illness like Alzheimer's and certain forms | | | | mental health. We need to treat this as a serious issue. |
| of dementia and have found that diets high in | | | | Diet and mental health go hand in hand. We all know |
| vegetables and other foods loaded with antioxidants | | | | we should eat better, but we need to take that first |
| like Vitamin E and C as well as B complex vitamins | | | | step. Realizing how critical this can be for our mind's |
| seems to help prevent the onset of the disease and | | | | ability to think, remember, maintain mood and avoid |
| protect the brain. | | | | mental illness may be just what we need to start |
| A good mental health diet needs to be low in bad fats, | | | | taking that step. |