You’ve probably heard that old saying that you are what you eat but do you know that your mood is also affected by the food that you eat? This is just one of the things I’ve noticed particularly in my work as a women’s health nutritionist.
The standard Western diet is packed full of processed, denatured foods which is being increasingly linked to not just obesity and heart disease but also to mental health.
Some research that supports this link:
A Canadian study published in 2013 reviewed the fruit and vegetable intake of a large group of participants (over 290,000) over several years. A strong correlation between food such as fruit and vegetable intake and mood – depression and/or other mood disorders was found and those with the highest intakes had less chances of suffering from a mental health issue.
In a 2014 review of 12 studies looking at the link between dietary habits and mental health, evidence was found of a significant relationship between unhealthy food and dietary patterns and poorer mood or mental health in children and adolescents. The researchers also noted a consistent trend for the relationship between good-quality diet and better mental health.
But what constitutes a healthy diet? Here are my 5 dietary steps to help eat away mood disorders
Step 1 Avoid processed, refined foods.
Unfortunately, this includes a lot of foods that regularly feature in the average shopping trolley. These include packaged meals, cook-in-sauces or packet sauces, commercial cakes, cookies, chips, pies, pastries, pastas and the like.
Lacking in nutrients due to extensive processing, these foods are often loaded with artificial additives, unhealthy fats, sugar, and excess salt and these may have an inflammatory effect on the body contributing to anxiety and/or depression.
Additionally, many of these foods are addictive, enticing you to eat large serves whilst others may wreak havoc with your blood sugar levels which may have a knock-on effect on your mood.
Step 2 Increase fruit and veggie intake.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommends 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of veggies daily; whilst about 50% of people have no problem eating fruit, over 96% of men and 89% of women struggle to consume the recommended quota of veggies. (ABS 2018)
Fruits and veggies provide a host of micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Many of these nutrients play an important role in mental health, for example magnesium deficiency is linked to many psychiatric and neuromuscular manifestations such as insomnia, headaches as well as anxiety and depression.
Including a rainbow of colourful veggies with main meals will help optimise your nutritional intake. Shopping at farmers’ markets is a great way to find less common fresh produce such as orange cauliflower or purple carrots.
Step 3 Eat protein at each meal and snack.
Proteins are made up of amino acids which are the important building blocks of life. Whilst the body can manufacture many amino acids itself, there are about 10 that can only be accessed through diet especially when the body is under stress, hence the need to eat good quality protein regularly.
Amino acids make many of our neurotransmitters that affect brain functioning and mental health; for example, tryptophan is the starting unit for serotonin our feel-good, happy hormone, which is used to make our sleep hormone, melatonin. Another example is glutamine that undergoes several processes to make our calming brain chemical, GABA.
Protein helps you feel fuller for longer and avoids fluctuations in blood sugar levels which may otherwise contribute to depression and anxiety.
Mood food includes animal proteins such as lean meats, poultry, seafood, and eggs and/or plant proteins from beans, peas, nuts, seeds and wholegrains.
Step 4 Don’t eat sugar
Sugar is abundant in our diet. It’s not just the obvious white stuff that you need to worry about but also the hidden sugars and the many sugar aliases such as fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, stevia, xylitol, dextrose, honey, agave, high-fructose corn syrup, maple syrup, rapadura, and cane juice. I’ve no doubt missed a few too! Plus, there are the refined foods which may rapidly break down into sugar.
When we eat a sugar-containing food or one that breaks down easily into sugar, our body releases insulin to drive that sugar into our cells. However, today’s modern diets can play havoc with your insulin and blood-sugar levels which in turn can cause hormonal issues and make you feel on edge, irritable and anxious, once the mood-lifting effects of sugar has worn off.
1 of the big issue with sugar is that our bodies weren’t designed to be eating such copious amounts – maybe just some berries in the Winter months!
Higher sugar food intake by way of added sugars, soft drinks, juices and pastries has been linked to mood disorders such as depression in several studies, due the aforementioned effects on blood sugar levels and also the following:
- Lower levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor which looks after the wellbeing of nerve cells
- Increased carbohydrates cause a rise in inflammatory markers, inflammation has been linked to depression.
Step 5 Enjoy natural fats
For decades we have been told that fat is bad and we’ve been bombarded with countless low-fat or fat-free products throughout supermarkets. Despite this, obesity rates and cardiovascular disease has risen dramatically. However, whilst many commercially processed fats and vegetable oils aren’t good for you, natural fats in an unadulterated form are indeed healthy for you.
Your brain needs good quality fats, such as Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) in your diet every day. They are called “Essential” because they can only be derived from your diet or through supplementation; along with saturated and monounsaturated fats they help balance hormones and support your brain function and thus your mental health.
Healthy fats to eat:
– Nuts
– Seeds
– Avocados
– Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel and sardines
– Flaxseed oil
– Olive oil
– Coconut oil
– Coconut cream
– Coconut butter
– Butter derived from grass-fed cows
– Ghee derived from grass-fed cows
– Organic and/or grass-fed meats
– Organic poultry
– Eggs
– Tahini (a spread made from sesame seeds)
With a bit of thoughtful planning, eating a balanced diet should be straightforward.
It’s never been easier to get health and wellness support, as I am a nutritionist offering online appointments – visit the contact page or call Bev on 0484 314 163 to get in touch today.
References:
O’Neil A, Quirk SE, Housden S, et al. Relationship between diet and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review. Am J Public Health. 2014;104(10):e31–42. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302110
Opie RS, Itsiopoulos C, Parletta N, et al. Dietary recommendations for the prevention of depression.
Nutritional neuroscience. 2017 Mar 16; 20(3):161-71.doi:0.1179/1476830515Y.0000000043
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/diet)
Nechifor M. Magnesium in major depression. Magnes Res. 2009;22(3):163–6.
Sathyanarayana Rao TS et al Understanding nutrition, depression and mental illnesses. Indian J Psychiatry. 2008 Apr-Jun; 50(2): 77–82. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.42391
Knüppel A, Shipley MJ, Llewellyn CH, Brunner EJ. Sugar intake from sweet food and beverages, common mental disorder and depression: prospective findings from the Whitehall II study. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):6287. Published 2017 Jul 27. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05649-7
The information provided in this website is of a general nature only. It is not intended to replace or substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As nutritional supplements are potent natural medicines, you should seek professional advice before starting any nutritional supplementation program. Any health concerns should be discussed with your medical practitioner or other healthcare professional.