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Does nutrition affect mental health?

October 06, 2021

October is mental awareness month and we would like to share some facts and tips on how to stay mentally healthy, by consuming the correct nutrients. So, does nutrition affect mental health?

Many of us are well aware of the benefits that eating a balanced diet has on our physical health, but do you know how it benefits our mental health? More and more research is coming to light on the impact food has on both our overall mental wellness, as well as specific mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Here we’ll take a closer look at how food and mood are related, what role our gut health has, and how a nutrition professional can support your nutrition and mental health.

Gut health and mental health

Eating a diet that is well-rounded and nutrient-rich can help to improve mood, increase energy levels and help you think clearer. There are several elements at play here, from the number of carbohydrates you eat to the way deficiencies in vitamins and minerals affect mental health. Let’s start by looking at the importance of carbohydrates in nutrition and mental health.

Carbohydrates and eating regularly

In order for your brain to be able to concentrate and focus, it needs energy (20% of all energy needed by the body is used by the brain). This energy comes from blood glucose, and the glucose in our blood comes from the carbohydrates we eat.

When we don’t have enough energy for the brain, we can feel weak, tired and unable to think clearly. Ensuring you eat regular meals containing some carbohydrates will help with this. Alongside starchy foods like pasta and rice, sources of carbohydrates include:

wholegrains
fruits
vegetables
legumes

When your blood glucose rises and falls rapidly, it can have an impact on your mood, making you feel irritable and low and even triggering symptoms of anxiety. Keeping your blood glucose levels steady throughout the day is key. Try foods that release energy slowly like oats, cereals, nuts, and seeds, and aim to eat smaller portions spaced out throughout the day.

Proteins and fats

Alongside the energy it gets from carbohydrates, your brain needs amino acids to help regulate thoughts and feelings. As protein contains amino acids, it’s important to get enough of this in your diet. Protein is found in lean meat, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds, cheese, soya products, and legumes.

Some people may be under the impression that all fat is bad for us, but this isn’t the case. Fatty acids, like omega-3 and omega-6, are essential for our brains to function well. Healthy fats can be found in nuts, seeds, oily fish, poultry, avocados, dairy products and eggs.

Our focus on low-fat diets may have also inadvertently affected our mental well-being. The brain is around 60% fat and omega 3 fatty acids are important for neurons to communicate effectively.

Vitamins and minerals

When we don’t get enough of certain vitamins and minerals, both our physical and mental health can suffer. The best way to ensure you’re getting enough of the vitamins and minerals you need is to eat a varied and balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables. For some, a supplement may be needed for nutrition and mental health, but be sure to check this with your doctor or a nutrition professional.

Here are some examples from the British Dietetic Association of how different vitamin/mineral deficiencies can affect your mood.

Iron: A lack of iron can lead you to feel weak, tired, and lethargic. Foods rich in iron include red meat, poultry, fish, beans and pulses, and fortified cereals.

B vitamins: Not getting enough B1, B3, and B12 can make you feel low, tired, and irritable. Animal protein foods such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and fortified cereals are rich in B vitamins.

Folate: When you don’t get enough folate you can be at a higher risk of feeling depressed. Folate can be found in green vegetables, citrus fruits, liver, beans, and fortified foods like marmite.

Selenium: A selenium deficiency may increase the chance of feeling depressed and other negative mood states. Good sources of selenium include Brazil nuts, seeds, wholemeal bread, meat, and fish.

A helpful way to make sure your diet is nutrient-rich is to ensure you’re getting at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

Nutrition and mental health: dehydration anxiety

Hydration and nutrition go hand in hand, but the vast amount of information available can often overwhelm us and cause feelings of anxiety. For some, these feelings can be severe. Dehydration anxiety is a fear that you aren’t drinking adequate amounts of water. You may fear going anywhere without your water bottle. This fear can lead to high consumption of water - more than your body requires - which can lead to illness. The fear stems from not giving your body sufficient hydration to perform at its best. This chronic form of anxiety is closely linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder and orthorexia.

Signs of dehydration anxiety include:

monitoring your daily intake of the liter
feeling a sense of dread when you don’t have your water bottle
worrying about where to get water from, e.g. when shopping or travelling
experiencing panic attacks when water isn’t immediately available

Nutritional therapy and hydration

The recommended six to eight-glasses-a-day advice (approx two litres) can be used as a general guideline for your water intake, alongside consideration of your individual dietary needs. The specific amount of hydration needed varies from person to person, so it’s important to tune into your whole lifestyle when considering how much water is sufficient hydration for you.

Nutritional therapist Karen Alexander says that it's not only the water you drink, but your diet, gender, age, exercise and lifestyle are also contributing factors to your water needs.

If you are concerned you’re drinking too much water, or too little, it can be helpful to speak to a nutritional therapist who can work through your hydration needs and ensure balanced nutrition and mental health.

Gut health, nutrition, and mental health

The link between our gut health, nutrition, and mental health is becoming clearer. Often dubbed the ‘second brain’, our digestive system produces over 90% of all serotonin (the ‘happy’ hormone) in our body. Our gut can also affect immunity and resilience to stress, which can affect our mood. Having a healthy digestive system, in general, ensures we’re able to absorb vitamins, minerals, and nutrients our brains need to thrive.

When we’re stressed or anxious, we’ll often feel it in our gut. Digestion may speed up or slow down, depending on how we’re feeling. To keep your gut happy, ensure you eat plenty of fiber and get lots of fluid and regular exercise.

Fermented foods can boost the good bacteria in our gut, so try to incorporate these into your diet where possible. Other gut-friendly foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans, and pulses.

Medication and your diet

It’s worth noting that if you’re taking a certain medication for your mental health, there may be some foods you need to avoid. Be sure to speak to your doctor about any medications you’re taking and ask about any dietary changes you may need to make to support your nutrition and mental health.

How a nutritionist can help with nutrition and mental health

Mental health and wellness require a holistic approach. Eating a balanced diet that contains the nutrients your brain and gut need can complement other therapies and approaches you’re using to manage mental health.

To ensure you’re getting the right foods for your particular circumstances, it can help to seek professional support from a nutritionist. They will be able to talk to you about your needs, take into account your individual requirements and tailor a diet plan to suit you.

You can help support your nutrition and mental health with our range of supplements.

For information on how to support your nutrition and mental health visit the following blog posts: