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Nutrition and Mental Health: Is There a Link?

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By Josh Piers - May 13, 2022 - 5 Mins Read

Keeping mental illnesses at bay

[caption id="attachment_10165" align="alignnone" width="695"] There is a correlation between what we eat and how we feel, according to a study.[/caption] A relationship between overall food quality and the risk of depression has been discovered in several observational studies. For example, a healthy dietary pattern characterized by high intakes of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, fish, low-fat dairy, and antioxidants, as well as low intakes of animal foods, was linked to a lower risk of depression, according to a reviewTrusted Source of 21 studies from 10 countries. A Western-style diet, on the other hand, was connected to a significantly higher risk of depression, with a high intake of red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets, high-fat dairy products, butter, and potatoes, as well as a low intake of fruit and vegetables. A previous study by Trusted Source revealed similar results, with high adherence to a Mediterranean diet linked to a 32% lower incidence of depression. More recently, a study of persons over 50 years old discovered a relationship between high levels of anxiety and diets heavy in saturated fat and added sweets. Researchers have discovered comparable effects in children and teenagers. For example, a review of 56 research published in 2019 identified a link between a high intake of healthy foods including olive oil, fish, nuts, legumes, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables and a lower risk of depression in adolescence. It's crucial to remember, though, that while observational studies can reveal a link, they can't prove cause and effect. Furthermore, even with randomized controlled trials, nutrition research studies have significant drawbacks, including challenges in reliably assessing food intake. Participants are frequently asked to recollect what they ate in the previous days, weeks, or months, but no one's memory is perfect.