Dietary Effects on Mental Illness

Although often overlooked, a well-rounded and nutrient rich diet can be a very important part of a holistic approach to treating mental illness. The old adage "You are what you eat" holds water: everything we put into our bodies affects our physical and mental health, even if we are not always conscious of it. Adopting a sound and healthy nutritional therapy as part of a patient's larger therapy can have significant benefits.

What sort of positive effects can a good diet have on mental health patients? Doctors may prescribe small or significant changes in their patient's diets to complement their conventional therapy. For example, research shows us that herbal treatments can be used effectively to treat anxiety and depression. The herb St. John's Wort has been shown to help relieve symptoms of depressive and anxiety disorders. Foods high in riboflavin, magnesium, thiamine and B-complex vitamins have also been shown to alleviate anxiety in some patients. Foods rich in these nutrients and vitamins may also help treat autism, hyperactivity, psychoses, and depressive disorders. Research also indicates that patients suffering from schizophrenia may benefit significantly from eliminating milk and wheat products from their diet. Children with autism may also benefit from eliminating milk and wheat products.

With the dramatic rise in mental health problems in the past 50 years, scientists and other researchers have sought answers as to why so many more people seem to suffer from serious mental illnesses. Part of the reason may be social. Mental health no longer has the negative stigma it once had. With the increasing awareness of mental health problems and public campaigns, people are more likely to seek out a mental health professional than ever before.

But researchers have also pinpointed another reason for the increase in mental health illness. Some researchers posit that the rise of poor diets can be linked to the rise in mental health disorders. Changes in diet have been linked to numerous mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, dementia, depression, Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit disorder, and other disorders. Researchers point at the widespread consumption of highly processed foods and the availability of junk food and fast food. Researchers say that these foods lack vitamins, minerals, and essential fats.

Studies indicate that connection between food, mood, and mental health is perhaps more salient than we previously believed. Research indicates that in countries where Fish Oilsand other Omega3 fatty acids are not consumed regularly, the depression rates appear to be higher. Lack of essential fatty acids has also been linked to schizophrenia. Other studies also indicate that lack of folic acid, selenium, and tryptophan (an amino acid crucial to healthy cell-building) may also play a role in mental illness.

How exactly does food affect our mental health? A poor diet lacks the nutrients and vitamins that are crucial to developing healthy brain structure and function. Individuals who are already vulnerable to mental health problems may find themselves even more vulnerable if they consume a nutrient-deficit diet.

What kinds of food should you eat to promote good mental health? Dieticians and researchers recommend a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include oily fish and nuts. Leafy green vegetables are recommended because they are rich in folic acid. Nuts, and especially Brazil nuts, should be consumed for selenium. Junk food and fast food should be cut out of the diet altogether. A diet aiming for good mental health should be rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains.

Although researchers continue to compile a growing body of scientific evidence that good food is conducive to good mental health, food policy has yet to catch up. Most mental health facilities continue to serve their patients lower quality food. Until governmental institutions adopt a good food policy and mental health providers adopt good nutritional therapies as part of their patient's overall therapy, researchers fear that the number of mental health disorders will continue to rise.

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