Improving Your Mood with Natural Nutrition

We all know that when you eat healthy food, you feel better.  It seems logical that a diet of natural nutrition which is rich in fruit, vegetables and lean proteins will result in good physical and mental health, and studies have already shown this to be the case.  Conversely, there is strong evidence that people with depression typically have unhealthy dietary habits.

What’s new in natural nutrition and mental health?

A new study from Macquarie University has looked specifically at the effect of diet on young adults aged 17-35.  This group is important to study because they are establishing health and eating patterns at this age and also, they are at higher risk for depression than the general population.

The three week dietary intervention included a healthy hamper of food and natural nutrition advice on the benefits of eating a Mediterranean diet.  They were advised to eat 5 servings of vegetables per day, 2-3 fruits, 3 serves of wholegrain cereals, 2 serves of lean protein, and 3 serves of unsweetened dairy.  Participants ate fish 3 times per week, and include small amounts of nuts and seeds, olive oil and spices (turmeric and cinnamon) each day. Also, they  decrease refined carbohydrate, sugar, fatty or processed meats and soft-drinks.

The positive effect of a Mediterranean diet on your mood:

After three weeks the study results were extremely positive. Participants experiencing mental illness presented with:

• Significantly fewer symptoms of depression after eating a healthy diet for three weeks
• Reduction in not only depressive symptoms but anxiety and stress levels too
• Participants managed to maintain the healthy diet changes after three weeks 

Easy steps to improving your mental health in 3 weeks

The exciting take-away from this study?  It’s possible you are just three weeks away from a significant shift in mental health simply through improving your diet.  Focus on natural nutrition and a Mediterranean diet for the full benefits. 

It’s important that a diet change should be used alongside medical and psychological treatments.  However this study is exciting in that it has shown a direct link between diet and depression in young adults.

Reducing processed food intake and increasing fruit, vegetable, lean protein and olive oil consumption will not only improve your health, but your mood too!

For more info on the study,  read here