In January 2019, researchers in Iran published a study in the Tehran University Medical Journal, showing a connection between diet and mental health.
Over a period of 8 months, researchers collected data on the mental health and the dietary habits of 400 female high school students. Then they compared the data to see if they could find any connections.
Here’s what they discovered:
- Participants who had higher stress, depression, and anxiety levels consumed more salt than those with lower levels.
- Participants with anxiety ate more fast food than participants without anxiety.
- Participants who ate less fresh fruit and drank less natural fruit juice were more likely to have higher levels of stress or depression.
This is one more study in a growing body of research showing a connection between what we eat and our mental health. Here at Truehope, we’ve been promoting nutrition as mental health treatment for over 20 years.