Mental health disorders are due to a combination of factors, such as genetics, environment and age. There is increasing evidence that food and nutrition play an important role in the prevention, progression and management of mental health problems. Ongoing research in the areas of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, ADHD and Alzheimer's disease is far from complete, but there are promising data.
Prevalence of Mental Disorders
Approximately 58 million, or one in four, Americans suffer from mental disorders, according to the "Nutrition Journal." Mental disorders are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Common mental health disorders include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, panic disorders, eating disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism. Those disorders often causing disability are major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Effects of Food
The food we eat plays an important role in our physical and mental health at each stage of life, starting in the womb and going through old age. Studies have validated the benefit of breast milk over formula on brain function. These benefits are thought to be due to higher levels of essential fatty acids in breast milk. Diet.com notes that many studies support the notion that breakfast improves academic performance in children. Neurotransmitters in the brain affect mood. The protein in meat, milk, eggs, cheese, fish and beans increases dopamine and norepinephrine, leading to increased alertness and concentration. Carbohydrates in grains, fruits and sugars increase serotonin, which in turn increases calmness and relaxation. Excess calories in all foods decrease alertness and concentration after eating.
Depression and Anxiety
In the case of depression, "Nutrition Journal" reports that depressed patients consuming between 1.5 and 2 g of omega 3 essential fatty acids have experienced elevated mood. The amino acid tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin and can induce sleep and tranquility and restore serotonin levels, leading to decreased depression. In bipolar depression, patients overproduce the mineral vanadium, but 3 g of vitamin C helps control vanadium levels and decreases manic symptoms. In obsessive-compulsive disorder, an anxiety disorder that is greatly helped by adding serotonin to the diet, studies reported in "Nutrition Journal" showed that St. John's wort, an herbal extract, was actually more effective in reducing symptoms than standard SSRI's such as Paxil and Prozac, and had fewer side effects. Side effects are one of the big reasons people don't take their antidepressants.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which patients suffer from delusions, paranoia and hallucinations. Disturbed amino acid synthesis has been named as a contributor to schizophrenia. The increased consumption of refined sugar is related to decreased state of mind in patients. "Nutrition Journal" mentions studies that have found that EPA, found in omega 3 essential fatty acids, helps schizophrenia. It reports that double-blind placebo-controlled studies have found that 2 g of EPA per day, taken along with medication, decreases symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
