Food and Mental Health. Is there a Link?

Can food really affect my mental health?

Many people seek to take control of their mental health using self-help and find approaches they can use alongside, or even instead of, prescribed medication. For example, one self-help strategy is to change what we eat. As a result, there is a growing interest in how food and nutrition can affect emotional and mental health.

Scientific evidence to back this up is developing. Still, there are many challenges for scientists to overcome. In the meantime, some medical practitioners remain unconvinced of the link between food and mood. Nevertheless, positive responses from individuals who have changed their diet confirm the importance of food and nutrition for maintaining or improving their emotional and mental health.

How does food affect mood?

There are many explanations for the cause-and-effect relationship between food and mood. The following are some examples: