Diet has long been presented as a vital aspect of our physical health.
As the adage goes: you are what you eat.
Many people have overcome significant physical illness and improved their state of health through changing their diet and making other lifestyle changes, writes psychologist and author MARGARET LAMBERT in her latest column in the Voice.
Not surprisingly, research is now showing that diet can also improve the mental health of people.
A study conducted at Deakin University has found that a Mediterranean style diet can improve the mental health of people suffering from severe depression. After 12 weeks of eating the recommended diet, one third of participants in the study reported significant improvement in their mood and symptoms, highlighting the important role that diet plays in mental health.
A Mediterranean diet is:
• High in olive oil, vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, nuts and legumes
• Moderate in fish, poultry, dairy products and red wine
• Low in pasta, red meat, and sugar
This type of diet has also previously been shown to lower risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
Diet is integral to our health states: both physical and mental – after all, these two aspects of ourselves are inherently interconnected.
Eating healthy and wholesome foods is the very least we can do for overall good health.
It is also important to ensure that the foods we are eating are compatible with our body types.
There may be some foods which the body does not metabolise well (for me it is corn and corn products) or result in allergic reaction: many people have a nut allergy or are lactose intolerant – a food tolerance test can help to identify such foods.
A Mediterranean diet is not a replacement for medical advice and treatment.
If you are being treated for a physical or mental health condition, it is advisable to keep your health professional informed about any changes in your normal health regime.
Until next time…
Marg Lambert
