Food and mood

Many people don’t realise that what they eat also affects their mental health – there’s even a new field of medicine called ‘nutritional psychiatry’ that studies this link. Food affects mood via our gut. The microbiota in our gut are not only involved in digestion, but also play a large role in our immune response, make essential vitamins and produce mood-controlling neurotransmitters (including over 90% of our serotonin). The brain and gut affect each other, which is why you can get ‘butterflies in your stomach’ when you’re nervous, but also feel more anxious if your gut health is poor. 

There’s so much evidence about how diet is closely linked to mental health – and at a time of rising levels of anxiety, this is one lifestyle intervention we can all pay attention to. Yet more people than ever are now eating nutrient-poor diets; it’s estimated that less than 15% of the UK population eats at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

 Multiple studies from institutes worldwide, including Deakin University, Harvard and UCLA, have demonstrated that improving the quality of your diet can help treat depression and anxiety. Studies show that making certain changes such switching to a low-sugar diet and taking probiotics can lessen stress and anxiety.

Useful books for more information include The Mind-Gut Connection by Dr Emeran Mayer and Gut by Guilia Enders.