What Researchers are Finding Out About How Diet and Mental Health Work Together

New research is uncovering interesting links between diet and mental health. What they are discovering about how what we eat affects our mental state is thought provoking and may be opening new avenues for treating certain forms of stress, depression and similar illnesses.

The old saying that "you are what you eat" may have some truth when it comes to your mental state. Science has been taking a harder look at how the foods we eat interact with our brain. While there is still much to learn about how diet and mental health interact, what has been uncovered is beginning to help some.

The BBC ran some articles earlier this year that summarized some of the findings reported recently. The report noted how a number of cases where mental health issues were addressed by a good mental health diet showed better responses than when drugs or counseling were used. One man in particular had been battling depression for over 40 years using prescription drugs and therapy to no avail. However, after doing some reading at the library on diet and health he made changes to his diet and the depression was resolved.

Scientists are still working on how various nutrients affect the brain, but what they have found is already being put to use. For example, studies have found a link between low levels of Omega 3 fatty acids and depression in a number of people. Changing their diet to incorporate fish and other sources of Omega 3's had a positive effect.

Other studies on diet and mental health looked at age related mental illness like Alzheimer's and certain forms of dementia and have found that diets high in vegetables and other foods loaded with antioxidants like Vitamin E and C as well as B complex vitamins seems to help prevent the onset of the disease and protect the brain.

A good mental health diet needs to be low in bad fats, high in Omega 3's and heavy on vegetables and fruits that provide vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. However, researchers also noted that much of the way our food is processed and farmed today is actually stripping those nutrients out of the foods we eat. Our growing desire for quick foods is also contributing to a diet high in fats and low in essential nutrition.

In order to have a proper diet and mental health support we as a society need to address both our personal eating habits and the larger issues of farming and food processing. We need to push for changes in the way foods are handled so they can be nutrient rich. We also need to look inward and see how our eating habits are potentially setting ourselves up for failure of both body and mind.

If we can't get what we need from our foods, then there are supplements that can provide the necessary vitamins and minerals our minds need. Some manufacturers are even creating supplements that target the brain and provide other nutrients like huperzine A, choline and the like that help support mental function and the production of neurotransmitters. It may be beneficial to incorporate some of these into the diet in addition to changing the foods you eat.

A mental health diet is really the same thing as a heart healthy diet or a diet to lower risk of cancer. It is taking ownership of what we eat in order to ensure our bodies continue to function well. Some people are more worried about making sure their car doesn't break down than they are about their physical and mental health. We need to treat this as a serious issue.

Diet and mental health go hand in hand. We all know we should eat better, but we need to take that first step. Realizing how critical this can be for our mind's ability to think, remember, maintain mood and avoid mental illness may be just what we need to start taking that step.

J. Wall has an avid interest in natural remedies for the treatment of memory loss. He is a regular contributor to the Diet and Mental Health section of http://www.memory-enhancement-guide.com, a site dedicated to improving mental ability and cognitive function. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Wall

Bikers Farm
Maine Romantic Bed And Breakfast
Chocolate
Shirt
Medical
Shirt
Builder Condo Home House
Toy
Southern California Jobs
Cosmetic Product Wholesale
Tool Box Truck Bed Cover
Career In International Business
Toy
Badcock Home Furniture More
Face Geneva Watch Wholesale
House
Driving Road Condition
Condominium In Orlando Florida
Dog Wallets
Gas
Beach Cocoa Condo Florida Rental
Wholesale Shoes Miami