You may think it is strange that what you eat can cause anxiety or make you depressed.

Food is more than calories which give us energy. Science has demonstrated that the micronutrients in food, the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other substances act as cell signaling molecules. They help the nervous system and the cells to communicate information and turn on or off the expression of genes. When we realize that, it is not so strange that what we eat can affect how we feel emotionally.

The research reviewed included 5,731 men and women aged 46-49 and 70-74 years. The researchers investigated if there was an association between the quality of the food the participants were eating and anxiety and depression (Jacka FN, et al. 2011).

A traditional Norwegian dietary pattern was found to be associated with a healthier state of mind. The conclusion was that those with better quality diets were less likely to be depressed, whereas a higher intake of processed and unhealthy food was associated with increased anxiety.

Follow the dietary recommendations described and explained in the book “The Food Connection” for 4 weeks. Then compare how you feel now with how you felt before you started eating according to those guidelines. You may be very surprised when you discover how you feel just after following the recommendations for only 4 weeks.

If you have a blood test after 4 weeks you will most likely also be very surprised if you compare these results with what they used to be.

 

 

Jacka FN, Mykletun A, Berk M, Bjelland I, Tell GS. The association between habitual diet quality and the common mental disorders in community-dwelling adults: the Hordaland Health study. Psychosom Med. 2011 Jul-Aug;73(6):483-90. Epub 2011 Jun 28.
  • Category: News
  • Author: Didrik Sopler
  • Published: 2020-03-28
  • Comments: 0
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