Recently, I have noticed that many of the patients who come to the clinic suffer from a mental disorder. Which affected their nutritional health, such as weight loss or excessive gain, deficiency of macro- and micronutrients, and an increase or loss of appetite; This led to their inability to follow the therapeutic nutritional plan provided to them, and this is due to the importance of the relationship between mental health and therapeutic nutrition.
Scientists have proven, through clinical studies, the direct relationship between the brain and the intestines, which explains why the intestines are called the “second brain.” This is because they contain a large number of neurotransmitters that they secrete, as well as a strain of gut bacteria, “good and friendly bacteria.”
The brain is connected to the digestive system via the vagus nerve, and the brain is connected to gut bacteria through a bidirectional link called the “intestinal-cerebral axis.”
And if we talk regarding food, we will find that it is one of the things that affects and is affected by the mood, negatively and positively, as human feelings are affected by the quality of food, and feelings affect the selection of food and its quantity.
So what is mental health? It is a state of psychological well-being that enables an individual to face the pressures of life, realize his potential, learn, work well, and contribute effectively to his society.
As for mental illness, it is defined as a syndrome with significant effects on the patient’s perception or ability to control his feelings or behavior. Which reflects a defect from a psychological, biological or developmental point of view, and often mental illnesses accompany clear difficulties and problems in the social or functional aspect.
There are several factors that affect mental health, including: genetic factors, biological factors and hormonal changes, environmental and social factors, factors associated with organic diseases, factors related to lifestyle and nutrition.
Since food is half the cure, there are nutrients classified as antidepressants and psychotics: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, B6, B9, B12, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc, Selenium and Omega-3.
Make sure, reader, that your mental health is linked to what enters your stomach, because there is a two-way communication between the brain and the digestive system, as 70% of neurotransmitters are synthesized in the intestine, and the microbes in the intestine communicate with the cognitive and emotional centers of the brain.
© 2024 All rights reserved