In recent years, food manufacturers have been under fire. Organizations such as The American Cancer Society and The American Diabetes Foundation have made clear connections between eating habits and physical health. It is no surprise that Harvard Medical School has brought to light that what you eat can directly affect your mental health too, and they’re not the first ones! Recently, wheat manufactures have been under the microscope due to some questionable
harvesting techniques. It is becoming more and more common that wheat farmers spray their crops with a chemical active in round up, called glyphosate, seven to ten days before harvest. This practice increases the drop of seeds before harvest time, which results in yielding a greater harvest the next time. This not only makes crops more plentiful, but is more profit for the farmer. Even after going through production process to be added to common foods such as breads, cereals, chips, etc., the toxins are still present. So how does this affect us, the consumer?
Eva Selhub, MD, explains that your brain is like the motor in a car. When you put premium gas in your car, it runs fine. Yet, when you put low grade fuel in your car, it can cause problems. The same is true for your body. Your brain is the motor of your body, and when it needs fuel, you eat. The vitamins and nutrients from the food that you consume, are absorbed into your body and make their way to your brain. Multiple studies have now found a direct connection between a poor diet and impaired brain function, causing increased symptoms of mood disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and even memory loss.
Studies have shown that patients who suffer from depression, can have drastic improvements in their mental health, just by changing their diet. For example, a patient in San Francisco, who wished to stay anonymous, was being treated for bipolar disorder when she was forced to change her diet after she experienced gastrointestinal issues. After beginning the popular Atkins diet, she not only found relief from her stomach issues, but also seen improvements in her mental health. She continues to eat healthy and has now been able to live stably without her medication to treat her bi polar disorder, for three years.
While this method worked for many patients, it’s important to speak to your doctor before stopping any medications. In the meantime, eating healthy and getting exercise never hurt anyone. So perhaps the next time you chose to go through the local fast food drive thru, you may want to think twice.
References:
Harvard Medical School
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry- your-brain- on-food- 201511168626
US National Library of Medicine
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4167107/
The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/can- what-you- eat-affect- your-
mental-health- new-research- links-diet- and-the- mind/2014/03/24/c6b40876-abc0- 11e3-af5f-
4c56b834c4bf_story.html?utm_term=.3e6a0c511d10
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/24/diet-mental- health_n_6566376.html