New research suggests that it may be possible to improve mental health by eating more healthily. Results of the survey of 200 people by the UK-based Food and Mood Project revealed that what we eat seems to have a significant effect upon our state of mind. Participants were asked to cut down on food “stressors” such as sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and chocolate, and increase the amount of “supporters”, which included water, fruit and vegetables, and oily fish. Other tips were to eat regularly and not to skip breakfast. An amazing 88% of participants said that changing their diet significantly improved their mental health. Of these, 26% saw improvements in mood swings, another 26% in anxiety and panic attacks, and 24% reported feeling significantly less depressed. More than a third of participants said they were “very certain” that the improvements they had seen to their mental health were directly linked to the changes they had made to their diet.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bbc.co.uk on the 17th September 2002
