How Diet Can Determine Mood

Is there any truth to the old maxim, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? While eating healthy can, in fact, help keep the immune system strong, there’s new evidence that what you eat can have a significant impact on mood and behavioral illness as well. Gut bacteria (also known as gut flora) has a strong link to brain chemistry and its effect on behavior and emotional well-being, according to researchers at McMaster University. While eating well may not rule out the need for psychotherapy or psychological treatment, understanding the interrelationship between foods and mental behavior can help patients who continually struggle despite persistent efforts. Recognizing the impact an imbalance can have on a mentally stable and healthy person as a result of the study can also go a long way in helping understand how choosing “comfort” foods in times of stress and sadness can actually have the opposite effect.… Read More