Diet has been shown to play an important role in the development of mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. A poor diet can facilitate a lack of resistance to stress, which can further develop into mood disorders. Studies have investigated a number of diet patterns that may be associated with mood disorders. The Western diet has been shown to detrimentally affect physical health, and studies also show it can negatively affect mental health and mood. This diet is characterised by high levels of processed foods such as refined starch and refined oils, and is high in sugar and low in micronutrients. This is reflected by the fact that sweet intake is also associated with the development of anxiety. In contract a vegetarian diet is protective of mood disorders. This may relate to the high amounts of plant foods in vegetarian diets, something that has consistently been shown to protect the brain and improve mental health and stress resistance. In particular, legumes and cereals appear to be protective of anxiety.
Diets that are protective of mood disorders usually have a number of common features. They tend to be high in antioxidants, high in micronutrients and high in fibre and plant foods. Diets containing these components tend to improve resistance to stress and are also able to prevent that damaging effects of stress on the brain.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself
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