If it’s true that ‘we are what we eat’, then it stands to reason that a large percentage of people living with modern afflictions such as depression, anxiety, addiction and stress are suffering from ailments in some way related to a modern day diet.
As society struggles to keep pace with rapid advances in technology and the lightning pace of a digitised world, we are fast losing touch with what can only be described as ‘real food’.
Previous generations, who had little or no access to ‘convenience’ foods, consequently had a much deeper connection with fresh, seasonal produce and the basic raw materials needed to provide essential, daily nourishment. The skills and techniques needed to produce a nourishing diet of healthy, balanced meals were constantly being re-invented, re-worked and refined. Accumulated culinary knowledge was passed down from generation to generation.
In fact the need to eat was more than the necessary inconvenience or the unhealthy obsession it is to many people today; it was the ultimate reward for a hard day’s toil, a sacred experience to be shared and a real cause for celebration.
In many ways we have now replaced, or are fast replacing, our ancient connections with ‘real food’ and basic nutrition with a vast array of unhealthy, modern alternatives. The kitchen is no longer the hearth, the engine room, nor the fundamental centre of many households.
We live in a world where the intrinsic values we place on our different senses have been redefined; where the tangible properties of true taste, texture and aroma have taken a backseat to a bevy of artificial stimulants, such as sight, sound and speed. Convenience rules the day.
We’re encouraged to ‘order-in’, ‘drive-thru’ or ‘heat-‘n’-serve’ processed meals devoid of any real alimentary goodness, so as not to interrupt our all important ‘viewing pleasure’ or to squeeze more work hours into a day. Ironically, the chances are high that we will be watching one of the many primetime shows about food and cooking while we consume our nutritionally bereft ‘TV dinners’.
The impetus to do more, be more, consume more – although it may be of increasingly of inferior quality – is the ultimate double-edged sword. The more economically advanced our society becomes, the more self-destructive our eating habits.
While modern science, technology and medicine are heralded as being the building blocks for a previously unknown quality of life, obesity, diabetes, depression, disillusion, and a general sense of disenfranchisement pervade the lives of many who have benefited from such ‘progress’. Could it be that we are fast losing touch with one of our more basic, primordial instincts or that our most vital reward center is being ignored and, literally, starved – all in the name of progress?
Fast foods, processed foods, genetically modified foods; foods high in saturated fats and trans-fatty acids, preservatives, additives, flavor enhancers, refined sugars and salts are making us both incredibly unhealthy and unhappy. Perhaps deep down in our collective consciousness we know that we are becoming little more than highly processed human junk.
Besides struggling with physical health, more people now battle mental health issues, with depression predicted to become the second highest cause of the global disease burden within the next 20 years. Recent figures show that, worldwide, 450 million people suffer from mental health problems, including depressive disorders, bipolar affective disorder (manic depression), schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s and other dementias, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder.
Mental illnesses represent four of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide and affect more than 25 per cent of people at some point in their lives. At any one time, about 10 per cent of the adult population is suffering from a mental or behavioral problem. In practical terms, one in four families are affected by a member with a psychological or behavioral problem.
The majority of the people are aware of the connection between diet and obesity or diet and coronary heart disease. Similarly, anyone who has ever smoked, drank alcohol, tea or coffee, or eaten chocolate knows that such products can improve one’s mood, at least a little and at least temporarily. However, what seems to be less common is an understanding that some foods can have a long-lasting influence on general mood and mental wellbeing because of the impact they have on the structure and function of the brain.
Medical researchers now say that the evidence linking diet with mental health is undeniable. As well as its impact on feelings of mood and general wellbeing, it demonstrates a contributory role in the prevention and treatment of specific mental health problems such as ADHD, depression, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s.
The implications are far-reaching, both in scope and depth, for a wide range of stakeholders. As policy-makers choose to incorporate the evidence into health and education guidelines, practitioners become more equipped to offer therapeutic treatments that take into account the complexities of mental health problems.
Certainly nutritional influences can be considered among a range of care options offered to those seeking to improve their mental health. Most importantly, perhaps, individuals can be educated to become more aware of the association between their diet and their mental health, enabling them to incorporate important dietary changes alongside their range of other care options.
Mood Food
A poor diet can make you feel anxious and fearful, depressed, tired all the time and even suicidal, according to researchers at Roehampton University in the United Kingdom. But while everyone knows eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, lean protein, and wholegrain foods will enhance health, there’s some special foods you should eat if you want to feel happier.
To boost levels of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that can be low in people suffering from depression, you need poultry, sardines, salmon, fresh tuna, nuts and seeds. Turkey and chicken are also good because they contain mood-enhancing tryptophan, an essential amino acid that is converted into serotonin.
But what about chocolate, which many people swear by as an instant mood lifter? On one hand, chocolate does contain a naturally occurring substance called phenylethylamine that can enhance endorphin levels and act as a natural antidepressant. On the other, it can be addictive i.e. if you don’t have it you’ll feel miserable and it contains lots of simple sugar, which in large quantities is bad for your health.
Happiness Tip: Put turkey, chicken, fish, nuts, seeds and complex carbohydrates in your grocery trolley. Try making oatmeal cookies for snacks, or turkey on rye with cranberry sauce and snowpea sprouts for lunch. Buy some dark, organic chocolate and have a small amount as a treat. Switch coffee for a herbal tea like green, ginger or berry.
Eat ‘real’ food wherever possible and you WILL feel happier.