Dieting is a good thing to do but you have to know what a good dieting and bad dieting is. According to a study, it leads to brain changes like depression and anxiety if one have a poor diet.
There was a research done by University of Reading, Roehampton University, FrieslandCampina (Netherlands), and Kings College London about the negative impacts done to the brain by eating poor diets. It is published in Nutritional Neuroscience. It shows that when someone have poor diet, there is reduced gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and elevated glutamate. With this research, we can conclude that there is a association between what we are eating and how we feal.
Also Read: Parts of the Brain Where our Memories Resides
How Diet Affects Your Mood and Mind
“We can eat ourselves well! Ultimately, we see that people who have an unhealthy diet – high in sugar and saturated fat – have imbalanced excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, as well as reduced volume of grey matter in the frontal part of the brain. This part of the brain is involved in mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.” was said by Dr Piril Hepsomali, from the University of Reading.
There is no full proof reason about how the diet affects our brain but it is possible that Excess body fat and high-saturated-fat diets impacts the brain chemistry:
- Glutamate: It is a neurotransmitter which is involved in memory and learning. With excess body fat, and high-saturated-fat diets, it may increase glutamate clearance from the synapse and it may Reduce glutamate metabolism, potentially leading to over stimulation of neurons.
- GABA: It is a neurotransmitter responsible for promoting calmness and relaxation. With excess body fat, and high-saturated-fat diets, it may decrease GABA production which leads to disinhibition and increased neuronal activity.
How Poor Nutrition Affects Brain Health
Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician says that “You are what you ear.” It can be explained that to encompass your brain health by implying “what you eat affects your brain or mental health. He also said that “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” meaning food have the power to influence someone’s health, including brain health.
Also Read: Sugar Alcohols: Are they Healthy to Consume?
Eating poor diets makes it harder for your brain to calm down because it reduces a calming chemical (GABA) and might boost a stimulating chemical (glutamate). Not only that, but these unhealthy foods can mess your brain cells that sends message to each other. There are numerous special brain cells that help to run your brain smoothly but it can be messed up or reduced by having unhealthy foods.
Brain Drain: Are You Missing the Nutrients You Need?
To make your brain function properly and brain development, there are certain nutrients that are extremely essential. Also, if one’s diet is lacking in those essential minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acid, it can lead to cognitive decline, memory problems, and an increased risk of dementia and depression.
Make sure you take care about your mental health by eating proper diets.
Dear readers, If you have any message or suggestion for us, please message us on sharpinn.com. Thank you, Suvam Burma
