Mental health is influenced by many factors, and a new study finds that what a person eats may play a bigger role than we realize. The cause and effect relationship that we understand between food and physical health has parallels to mental health. Certain diets, like the Mediterranean diet, may lower the risk of depression. Another area in which food can impact mental health is through the bacteria in the gut. The gut bacteria’s role in controlling inflammation is an important one.
Key Takeaways:
- Neurologists may start to require dietary consults, as new research makes it clear that neurotransmitters are affected by the foods we eat.
- Natural mood-elevators, such as zinc, magnesium, iron and B vitamins can also be key in keeping mind’s and spirits healthy.
- Fermented foods and other digestion-promoting nutrients may also affect the brain, as the gut, as neuron activity occurs between the digestive and cognitive regions of the body.
“While a number of factors are at play when considering who’s at risk, a new field of study called nutritional psychiatry looks at how diet can impact mental health.”
Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-you-eat-may-affect-mental-health/