Rates of anxiety and depression continue to rise throughout the United States, as the national average has climbed to nearly 20% of the adult population currently experiencing at least a mild issue with their mental health.
Many people are pointing at the pandemic as the main reason why this rate continues to climb, but the fact of the matter is that the rates of reported depression among adults have been climbing steadily for years, even despite an “astounding increase in antidepressant use by Americans,” according to Harvard Medical School.
So what else could be causing the mental health dilemma in this country? Well, as the old adage goes, you are what you eat, and most Americans are eating a diet that directly contributes to an increased risk of depression.
How Your Diet Affects Your Mental Health
Many scientific studies have been done to explore the link between our diet and our mental health. The Journal of Nutrition published a study in 2019 that found that a pro-inflammatory diet was directly associated with a higher risk of depression, while a separate study (published in 2020) found that:
- Diet has a “significant effect on preventing and treating depression”
- Processed food intake should be excluded or severely limited, while vegetables, fruits, fish, and nuts should be promoted
- Micronutrients are very important in maintaining a healthy mental state.
The United States is a country that has become the poster child for convenience as a society, and with that, the standard American diet has become one that is filled with processed foods and other unhealthy options. In fact, it is estimated that 70% of the average American diet is highly processed food.
While some are sitting here and trying to find an easy explanation as to why poor mental health and depression rates continue to rise, the real answer is staring us all right in the face: it’s our diet. Your body and mind need adequate nutrition in order to thrive, and most people are not getting that with what they are eating.
In addition to making healthier food choices in your life, it’s important to have a multinutrient supplement in order to ensure that your body is getting the correct balance of vitamins and minerals that it needs. Consider adding Truehope EMPowerPlus to your life, the most studied micronutrient formula in the world, and your path to better mental and physical well-being.