Does Poor Diet = Mental Illness?

Poor diet appears to be a major factor behind a significant rise in mental illness, according to British studies. Researchers found a strong correlation between attention deficit disorder, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia and the absence of essential dietary fats, vitamins and minerals.

Changes in diet have been linked to numerous mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, attention deficit disorder, and other disorders. Researchers point at the widespread consumption of highly processed foods, the availability of junk food and fast food, and the poor quality food that is often at schools to children.

Persons with mental illness have a high risk of developing physical illnesses and some of the factors that increase this risk are alcohol, smoking, drug use, poor diet due to poverty or illness. Other factors may result directly from treatment itself and can cause effects on the nervous system and metabolic function.

Persons with poor health are restricted in a variety of adult roles – as spouses and parents, as employees, and as community contributors. Good health is shaped partly by genetic factors but also depends on responsible lifestyle behaviors, positive environmental conditions, and effective healthcare. Persons with mild mental retardation often can merge into competitive labor and daily community life with minimal assistance, while persons with moderate mental retardation may need more training and support in order to live successfully in the community.

Healthy lifestyles that include exercise and a high fiber diet require plenty of water intake. Experts suggest eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Health is not just the absence of disease. Consider the situation with a medical illness. Health care professionals and families face new and diverse challenges in the current health care market. With the move toward managed care, providers have been required to look for ways to make services more efficient.

Way back in history, a small minority of doctors continued to believe that mental illness was caused by imbalanced bodily humors, poor diet, and grief. Treatments of choice included exorcisms, and other more barbaric strategies such as drowning and burning.

Fuel your brain with these Brain Foods while on the Take Shape For Life: