A review published in the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology shows that a person’s diet can improve or worsen his mental health, depending on the quality of the foods that he eats. European researchers arrived at this conclusion after reviewing past studies that examined the potential link between nutrition and mental health.
The researchers found strong evidence that the Mediterranean diet, which is a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and olive oil, exerts a protective effect against depression. Other studies also suggest that following a ketogenic diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, could reduce the frequency of seizures in children with epilepsy.
A poor diet, on the other hand, is associated with mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder. Meanwhile, vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to fatigue, memory problems and the development of depression. According to the review, taking vitamin B12 supplements could improve mental health in people with vitamin B12 deficiency. Read more…
