Diet and mental health.
Research has shown that there is a strong link between diet and mental health. A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help to improve mood, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and promote overall mental well-being. Conversely, a diet high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats can have a negative impact on mental health.
Studies have found that the gut microbiome, which is the collection of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract, plays a key role in the relationship between diet and mental health. The gut microbiome produces neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which are involved in mood regulation. A healthy gut microbiome can help to promote a positive mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
In addition to the gut microbiome, the nutrients and compounds found in food can also impact mental health. For example, omega-3 fatty acids,
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‘Balanced’ Diet Most Protective For Mental Health
While more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between diet and mental health, the study highlights the importance of making wise nutritional choices to improve brain function and mental health outcomes. People’s preferences for certain foods can also impact their overall dietary patterns over time, and researchers are interested in exploring how these preferences may influence brain function and mental health.
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How food preferences are linked to cognition and brain health – and why a balanced diet is superior
Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian receives funding from the Wellcome Trust and the Lundbeck Foundation. Her research work is conducted within the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Mental Health and Neurodegeneration Themes. She consults for Cambridge Cognition.
Jianfeng Feng receives funding from Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (No.2018SHZDZX01), ZJ Lab, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology and the 111 Project (No.B18015).
Wei Cheng does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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Can Food Choices Affect Brain? Study Says Balanced Diet Linked To Better Cognition, Mental Health
In the study involving 181,990 participants from the UK Biobank, researchers examined how food choices are associated with cognitive function, mental health, metabolism, brain imaging, and genetics. The findings were published in Nature.
The participants were categorized into four dietary subtypes based on naturally developed dietary patterns derived from their food preferences. These subtypes included the reduced-starch or starch-free group, vegetarian group, high protein and low fiber group, and balanced group.
The analysis showed that those in the healthy balanced diet group had better brain health, cognitive function, and mental health than low-carb, vegetarian, and high protein/low-fiber groups.
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Discussion:
Diet has a significant impact on mental health and cognitive functioning. Known facts suggest that a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can support mental health and cognitive functioning, while a diet high in processed and sugary foods can have negative effects on mental health, including increased risk of depression and anxiety.
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, nuts, and seeds, have been shown to support brain health and cognitive functioning. Probiotics, found in fermented foods, can also support mental health by promoting a healthy gut microbiome. Adequate hydration is also essential for maintaining good mental health, as dehydration can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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Continuing with… ‘Balanced’ Diet Most Protective For Mental Health:
Diet affects mental health and cognitive functioning.
A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can support mental health and cognitive functioning. Conversely, a diet high in processed and sugary foods can have negative effects on mental health, including increased risk of depression and anxiety. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, nuts, and seeds, have been shown to support brain health and cognitive functioning. Probiotics, found in fermented foods, can also support mental health by promoting a healthy gut microbiome. Adequate hydration is also essential for maintaining good mental health, as dehydration can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety.
