The Importance Of Nutrition And Mental Health

Nutrition is crucial to keeping our body and the mind healthy, however, many people who struggle with stress, anxiety or depression tend to reach for food that eases them such as chips or fast food this is known to be “comfort food”. This food has a direct effect on students energy levels and interrupts them to perform well in their daily life. Moreover, there are many times when post-secondary students are load with so much on their plate that many don't feel the need to eat because they are too overwhelmed to eat or are not motivated too. Mental health is a prominent factor in a university student life which inability impacts their ability to perform a day-to-day task due to chronic

In today’s time, food has various meanings and degrees of importance. Some people use food as an act of nurture, some use food for a means of happiness. Preoccupation with food may lead to eating disorders. Eating disorders often causes one to display symptoms of depression, including mood swings, hopelessness, loneliness and anxiety.

I have learned the importance of eating a balanced diet, and have learned that when you eat a balanced diet your body receives the fuel it needs to manage your energy level. By researching nutrition value, I have also learned that what you're putting into your body( the foods you put into your body) can also greatly impact your mood, including the fact that what you eat has an impact on your brain, including the parts that regulate mood. I have learned that Foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as fruits, whole grains and vegetables, have been associated with an overall lower risk of depression, as have foods rich in omega-3 fats, such as nuts, salmon and other fatty fish. Another things I have learned by performing this project is the importance of healthy food in order to maintain a healthy weight/body. I have learned that foods are important sources of mineral compounds and nutrients required for a healthy body. I have learned that nutrients in healthy foods also have vital nutrients that strengthen bones, muscles and tendons and regulate body systems such as blood pressure. I have also learned that these foods are also rich in fiber, which may reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

Just as nutrition can have drastic effects on one’s physical health, nutrition can affect one’s mental health as well. The most common mental disorders that are prevalent in numerous countries are depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The dietary pattern of the general population in many countries reflect that they are often deficient in many nutrients, especially essential vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. Deficiency in these vitamins can lead to depression.

    To begin, depression is a psychotic disorder marked by sadness, difficulty thinking and concentrating.Depression is an essential factor because if you have this disorder while you’re

In the article the author, James Maynard, tried to interpret a study published by Biological Psychiatry Journal on “ Obese-type Gut Microbiota Induce Neurobehavioral Changes in the Absence of Obesity.” Maynard found that mice from the study were fed different types of foods: one high in fat and the other in “normal chow diet.” The rats that were fed the fat enriched diet showed some symptoms of anxiety and forgetfulness, while the other rats were seemingly okay. In these findings, Maynard makes and Association claim that High fat diets can cause Depression and other psychological risks. The article does not advocate for a change in diet, but does not give any reference to other possible causes to the lab results.

Vitamins A,B,C,D,E,K are very important in maintaining a healthy mental lifestyle, and some major foods that contain these vitamins are carrots, meat, citrus fruits, seafood, almonds, and leafy greens. Some main beneficial foods I learned more about, were dark chocolate and avocado. Dark chocolate improves mood and energy by releasing endorphins and helps the health of the brain with magnesium. Avocados have many good fats, counteracting the claim that they are negatively too fatty. They also contain potassium and folate which both lead to better brain health and function.

Therefor Patients must adhere to restricting diets that consists of: intermediate fasting and, vegetarianism. Professor Roy Swank, Professor and head of Neurology Division of the University of Oregon Medical School, theorized “saturated fats cause and worsen M.S “, later leading to dietary intervention treatments to improve the quality of life of a patient. (Jelinek, Swank) When patients have worsening symptoms, it can cause a polluted mindset-often mild depression- leading to the decrease in quality of life. (Jelink, what is M.S) The presences of depression alongside M.S worsens the physical symptoms of the disease. (Jelinek, D’Alisa) Dietary intervention allows for at home option, which also allow the patients to be in control of their quality of life. A diet free of gluten and saturated fat, but high in

Depression and social anxiety are two major disorders that affect millions of people each and everyday. Often times people affected with depression tend to also have social anxiety disorder similarly to people who are affected by social anxiety disorder also experience feelings of depression. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America “MDD affects more than 16.1 million American adults, or about 6.7%of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.” The mental aspect of depression results in many people experiencing an unhappy mood but it is much deeper than “sadness”. People who experience depression face many internal conflicts such as feelings of worthlessness as well as hopelessness. Depression may also cause negative impacts on one's body. Often times people with depression experience issues with their weight, whether it be weight gain or loss. They also encounter issues with feeling unmotivated and disinterested in what's going on with their life. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.”

Eating a healthy diet is instrumental in the reduction of the risk factors for several major diseases. Obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are a few of the risk factors that serve as precursors to major diseases, and can be controlled with healthy eating.

The book “Happiness Diet for Your Mind” argues that yes a proper diet and exercise will give you a better and healthier body but will it really please and sustain a good mental health? The author Timothy Anspach believes that in order for you to have control over your mind and body you must be in control of what stimulus you choose to indulge in. Just like the food you choose to eat which will influence your physical health, you will learn how to surround your mind and thoughts with positive stimuli which will then create a better mental state.

Our current lifestyles and daily diets are filled with processed foods, fast foods and generally very have little health benefits. This in turn has seen the increase of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety/

Mental health problems are believed to be the result of a combination of factors, including age, genetics and environmental factors. One of the most obvious, yet under-recognized factors in the development of major trends in mental health is the role of nutrition.(Associate Parliamentary & Health, 2008). Recent evidence suggests that good nutrition is essential for our mental health and that a number of mental health conditions may be influenced by dietary factors.. The body of evidence linking both diet and mental health is growing at a rapid pace ( Associate Parliamentary & Health, 2008). Recently, there have been a number of published studies identifying an inverse association between diet quality and the common mental disorders, namely depression and anxiety, in adults (Bellisle, 2004). Other prospective studies suggest that diet quality influences the risk for depressive illness in adults over time. The evidence indicates that food plays a contributing role in the development, management and prevention of specific mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease ( Associate Parliamentary & Health, 2008).

How the mind can be effected by the food? . What we eat is what we are. Food can change the mood of any person. For example, if someone ate a salad for breakfast will have better mode than someone who ate a burger for breakfast. Furthermore, food that contains sugar will have negative results on the mental, but the fruits and vegetables will absolutely benefit the mind. As Zwier explains, the food that contains Omega-3, and also that help the mind to focus and memorize things (2012). Some food gives the mind good energy types of food have some effects on people mental: amount of food, fats and how to avoid mental problems.

In the modern era of medicine, doctors have been making discoveries about how nutrition affects our mental health. They are making connections between the diet of an adolescent and how it affects their moods. An example that has been sweeping the nation, is ‘Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder’ (ADHD) is a ‘brain diseases.’ Commonly found in children in their adolescent stages.