More and more studies reveal the close links between thefood and the Mental Health. The correlation is confirmed again with new research published in the International Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences on February 16. Researchers at the Loma Linda University Medical Center (USA) have shown that patients who eat harmful foods are more likely to show symptoms of psychological distress than their peers on a healthier diet.
Additional evidence
The scientists relied on the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), conducted between 2005 and 2015. This includes information on health status and behaviors, but also sociodemographic characteristics. More than 240,000 telephone surveys were analyzed in this way. Nearly 17% of Californian adults surveyed were found to be susceptible to mental illness. 13.2% suffered from moderate psychological suffering, 3.7% from more severe forms.
However, these two factors have been associated with a reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables and at one increased consumption of french fries, fast foods and sodas. The researchers warn that the causal link is not proven. However, they believe that the study supports previous research that has already shown a link between mental illness and poor food choices. For example, sugar consumption had been associated with stress. Fried foods containing large amounts of sugar or processed grains to depression.
Their findings provide “additional evidence that public policy and clinical practice should aim more explicitly to improve diet quality in people with mental health conditions, they write. Nutrition interventions […] should particularly target young adults, those with less than 12 years of education and obese people. »
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