The connection between good food and improved mood

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Nutrition

The connection between good food and improved mood

By Sarah MacAvoy
Watermelon_Woman
It is now recognised that diet quality impacts mental health [Image: Caju Gomes on Unsplash]

While mental disorders often have multifactorial causes, the connection between diet and mental health may hold a significant key to their prevention and management, explains dietitian Sarah MacAvoy

Key points, Lifestyle modification, including diet, is the foundation of treatment for mood disorders. Encourage a dietary pattern that is high in plant foods, , Pract Green w Pale Yellow
References

1. Food & Mood Centre. foodandmoodcentre.com.au

2. Ministry of Health. Annual Data Explorer 2022/23: New Zealand Health Survey.

3. Jacka FN, O'Neil A, Opie R, et al. A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial). BMC Med 2017;15(1):23.

4. Malhi GS, Bell E, Bassett D, et al. The 2020 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for mood disorders. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2021;55(1):7–117.

5. Ministry of Health. Eating and Activity Guidelines for New Zealand Adults. Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Health; 2020.