ental health link to diet change Mental health link to diet change
Changes to diets over the last 50 years may
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Changes to diets over the last 50 years may be playing a key role in
the rise of mental illness, a study says.=20

Food campaigners Sustain and the Mental Health Foundation say the way
food is now produced has altered the balance of key nutrients people
consume.

The period has also seen the UK population eating less fresh food and
more saturated fats and sugars.

They say this is leading to depression and memory problems, but food
experts say the research is not conclusive.

Dr Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation,
said: "We are well aware of the effect of diet upon our physical health.

DIET AND MENTAL HEALTH
Depression - Linked to low intakes of fish - high in omega-3 fatty
acids which are essential for good brain health
Schizophrenia - Epidemiological evidence has shown sufferers have
lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, unclear though what
changes need to address this
Alzheimer's disease - Some studies have suggested high vegetable
consumption can protect against the brain disorder
ADHD - Research shown children with disorder are low in iron and
fatty acids


"But we are only just beginning to understand how the brain as an
organ is influenced by the nutrients it derives from the foods we eat
and how diets have an impact on our mental health."

And he added that addressing mental health problems with changes in
diet was showing better results in some cases than using drugs or
counselling.

The report, Feeding Minds, pointed out the delicate balance of
minerals, vitamins and essential fats consumed had changed in the past
five decades.

Researchers said the proliferation of industrialised farming had
introduced pesticides and altered the body fat composition of animals
due to the diet they are now fed.

For example, the report said chickens reach their slaughter weight
twice as fast as they did 30 years ago, increasing the fat content
from 2% to 22%.

The diet has also altered the balance of vital fatty acids omega-3
and omega-6 in chickens which the brain needs to ensure it functions
properly.

Fats=20

In contrast, saturated fats, consumption of which has been increasing
with the boom in ready meals, act to slow down the brain's working
process.

The report said people were eating 34% less vegetables and two-thirds
less fish - the main source of omega-3 fatty acids - than they were 50
years ago.

Such changes, the study said, could be linked to depression,
schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and
Alzheimer's disease.

The two groups urged people to adopt healthier diets, with more fresh
vegetables, fruit and fish, and called on the government to raise
awareness about the issue.

Report researcher Courtney Van de Weyer said: "The good news is that
the diet for a healthy mind is the same as the diet for a healthy body.

"The bad news is that, unless there is a radical overhaul of food and
farming policies there won't be healthy and nutritious foods available
in the future for people to eat."

Rebecca Foster, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition
Foundation, said: "The evidence associating mental health and nutrient
intake is in its infancy, this is a very difficult association to
research and in many cases results are subjective.

"Therefore, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the association
between mental illness and dietary intake at this point.

"However, the nutrient recommendations outlined in this report are in
line with recommendations for good health, which should continue to be
advocated by all health professionals."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/4610070.stm

Published: 2006/01/16 00:52:02 GMT

=A9 BBC MMVI