Mental Health

There is a profound interconnectedness between the health of the body and the mind. In the past decades, there has been emerging research suggesting a link between a balanced diet and the overall sense of wellbeing of the individual. The prevalence of mental health struggles in Australia is striking, where 15% of the population report experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress. According to Lifeline, 8.6 Australians die every day by suicide, which is more than double the road toll.

Maintaining your Mental Health allows you to:

  • Feel more content with life
  • Build positive social relationships
  • Increase concentration and energy for Uni grinds!
  • Reduce burnouts
  • Increase creativity and productivity
  • Cope stress

Sugar and Mental Health? Is it real?

We do not know exactly why diet affects mental health, but it could be due to changes in blood glucose (sugar) levels, inflammation, or effects on the microorganisms that live in the gut (known as microbiome). Eating well also prevents some chronic diseases like diabetes, which also affect mental health.

Sugar: Links to the Brain

High blood glucose levels can affect the brain’s functional connectivity, which links brain regions that share functional properties, and brain matter. It can cause the brain to atrophy or shrink. And it can lead to small-vessel disease, which restricts blood flow in the brain, causing cognitive difficulties and, if severe enough, spurring the development of vascular dementia.

A diet high in sugars has been linked to cognitive impairments, negative neuroplasticity and emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Sugar consumption increases the impulsivity to feed.

Sugar overconsumption leads to changes in neurobiological brain function which alter emotional states and subsequent behaviors.

Addiction, stress, fear, anxiety and depression involve overlapping neural mechanisms.

Take actions to make a difference to your lifestyles TODAY!

It is common to experience both obesity and mental health issues together. For some people, obesity may contribute to developing certain mental health conditions, while for others mental health issues may lead to weight gain and obesity. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your health that can have positive effects on your weight and mental well-being.

Mindful eating: If you concentrate on what you’re eating, you will probably eat more healthily. For example, people who eat while watching television tend to eat too much at one sitting. Practicing mindfulness and being aware of what you are doing has its own benefits.

Healthy food swaps: It can be easier to make small changes than big changes. They’re more likely to stick. Swap white breads for whole grain breads. Swap the frying pan for the grill.

Going easy on yourself: Change doesn't usually happen overnight. Take small steps to improve your food and drink intake, make changes and practice positive self-talk.

References

[1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626
[2] https://www.lifeline.org.au/resources/data-and-statistics
[3] https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/what-is-mental-health
[4] https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/food-drink-and-mental-health
[5] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.021
[6] https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/healthy-mind/obesity-and-mental-health
Attributions
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