Food does not have an impact on your mood or mental health

Question

An article written by Mass General Brigham, there are explanations on how the foods we eat directly influence our mood, energy levels, and overall mental well-being. It highlights the connection between nutrition and brain function, noting that diets rich in whole food, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, support more stable moods. Highly processed foods and those high in sugar can lead to mood swings, fatigue, and increased feelings of stress.

A main focus of the article is the gut–brain connection. The author describes how the gut microbiome produces things like serotonin, which play a major role in regulating mood. When someone eats nutritious foods, they help maintain a healthy gut environment, which can support an individuals emotions. Poor diet choices, however, can upset the gut microbiome and contribute to symptoms of anxiety or depression.

The article also offers individuals information and helps them in choosing foods that help improve mood. It encourages including healthier foods such as omega-3 rich foods like fatty fish, eating high-fiber foods to support gut health, and limiting added sugars. It concludes that while food is not a replacement for mental health treatment, eating more balanced, whole-food-based meals can contribute and help improve an individual's mental health.

Answer 1

This claim implies that what you use for fueling your body does not impact how your body reacts. This claim has been investigating by many professionals and has been proven to be false through both experimental and observational study. 

An article from Better Health Chanel states, "A varied, healthy diet improves your memory, concentration and can even increase your level of optimism and protect you from depression." and goes on to say, "studies have found that young people with the healthiest diets are considerably less likely to experience depression than those with nutritionally poor diets." which suggests that we do have some control over our mental wellbeing and can promote a healthier mental state by focusing on a healthier diet. 

Another article from, National Library of Medicine investigates, "As well as the physical health risks, diets with a high glycaemic index and load may also have a detrimental effect on psychological wellbeing; data from longitudinal research show an association between progressively higher dietary glycaemic index and the incidence of depressive symptoms" showing how actual experiments have led to the conclusion that your diet impacts your mood. On the other hand eating too little or too much can negatively impact your mood and led to depression or anxiety. Both of the articles I have looked into come from sources with the intention of studying health so they lack a bias that may try to convince you to buy their product. Their research is focused on bettering people's mental health so they have researched ways to improve wellbeing. 

Overall, this claim is false because food can have an impact on your mood the same way most things can impact your mood. 

Answer 2

After researching numerous sources, this statement is scientifically proven to be false. According to an article from We Don't Waste, food does chemically impact our mood. Furthermore, the article shows that "good" food does improve long-term mental health outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of putting healthy food into our bodies. While some food like candy or chocolate is okay in balance, filling our minds and muscles with long-lasting nourishment is the better option--- and it absolutely does have an impact. Furthermore, a study and article from Harvard Health states that "Your brain requires a constant supply of fuel. That "fuel" comes from the foods you eat — and what's in that fuel makes all the difference. Put simply, what you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood." Paying attention to the foods you eat will overall improve your mood and mental health.

Answer 3

Based off of my findings, this claim is false. The National Library of Medicine states, "An approach to consider for patients with mental health symptoms is to offer counseling on lifestyle interventions, such as diet." The article also goes on to discuss that changes in diet, often "nutritional deficiencies" are proven to cause some symptoms of depression, such as low mood, fatigue, and cognitive decline, proving that food in fact does have an impact on one's mood and mental health. In regards to mood, "On the other hand, a “whole foods,” traditional, and a Mediterranean diet have been found to be protective against developing depression among other mental illnesses." Furthermore, va.gov  discusses that eating the right foods, such as foods high in nutrients like fruits and vegetables, supports sleep habits, energy levels, and thinking. 

Source List: 

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6170050/#sec2

https://news.va.gov/140417/healthy-eating-can-improve-mental-health/

Answer 4

The claim that food has no impact on your mood or mental health is false, as diet is scientifically linked to brain function through the gut-brain axis. This can be supported primarily through the National Institutes of Health and the Mass General Brigham. An explanation of how the gut microbiome communicates things to the Mental Health America website. Many health organizations place their focus on a preventative diet. This kind of diet is supplement to clinical psychiatric car, through it is not a complete replacement. More supporting evidence is that approximately 90% of the serotonin in the body is created inside of the gut, which is strongly guided by the food people consume. Undermining evidence is that any mental health conditions are either trauma-based or genetic, and they might not respond to simple diet changes. A review for this claim is a source speaking on gut neurons called Mass General Brigham Research Spotlight.

Answer 5

This claim is false. Your brain and your stomach specifically the microbiome in it play a huge roll in your emotion and critical thinking skills. It seems to be a trend that the western diet is the worse one to be having because it increases your lack of focus, mental health, and physical well-being because of it's saturated fat contents and biochemically engineered ingredients put into the food eaten by people in Western culture which cause health risks, cardiac arrest, stroke, diabetes type 2, arrythmias, etc. The most sought after diet seems to be the Mediterranean diet which mostly consists of natural whole foods and less processed foods and sugary sweets.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7322666/#sec3

Answer 6

This claim is False; Nutrition and food play a large role in mood and someone's mental state. Harvard Health states that 95% of serotonin is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, which is part of the digestive system. Serotonin helps regulate sleep, moods, appetite, and inhibit pain. The article states that the innerworkings of the digestive system help guide the emotions. Compared to a western diet, mediterranean diets and Japanese diets have shown a 25% to 35% decrease in risk of depression.  

 https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626