Which foods are good for mental health? Depending on your age

Guide

We all know that meat, fruits and vegetables can improve mood and regulate mental health. But which category is best? The latest study reveals that the impact of a particular food on mental health depends largely on the age of a person.

Previously, studies have shown that diet is associated with obesity, intestinal flora, and a variety of diseases. Now, the research article published in the journal Neuroscience tells us that the impact of diet on mental health is largely influenced by age.

Scientists from the State University of New York at Binghamton found that the effects of specific foods on young people's moods are different from those of middle-aged and older people. The author of the article, Lina Begdache, assistant professor of health research, and the team believe that the results of this research will help people choose foods that are more conducive to mental health.

Diet affects mental health

In recent years, scientists have found that diet has a major impact on mental health. For example, in early 2017, a research team found that in just two weeks, increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables can affect people's feelings. Other studies have also shown a link between red meat intake and depression risk.

It is believed that the key to these benefits is that specific foods alter the levels of the compound in the brain and thus affect mental health. However, Lina Begdache and the team recently proposed an important point: the structure of the brain changes with age throughout the life cycle. Specifically, brain maturation may not be completed until the age of 30. Therefore, dietary factors have different effects on the mental health of young people and middle-aged and older people.

Red meat and poultry are good for young people

To validate the speculation, scientists used the social media platform to send an online “Food-Mood” questionnaire (FMQ). The people involved in the survey were divided into two groups: young people (18-29 years old) and adults (30 years old or older). Using FMQ data, the Begdache team analyzed the association between diet, exercise, and mental health in the two groups.

They found that ingesting more poultry and red meat would upregulate the brain's emotionally related chemicals, including serotonin and dopamine. These compounds are related to the mental health of young people.

Lina Begdache said: "Regular exercise contributes to the formation of these compounds. In other words, young people who eat meat no more than three times a week and do not exercise more than three times are more likely to feel bad." These results suggest that young people's brains may be more sensitive to brain compounds that favor positive emotions.

As the age increases, the diet structure needs to be adjusted

For middle-aged and elderly people, eating more fruits and vegetables is more conducive to their mental health. These foods are rich in antioxidants that fight free radical damage to the brain. In addition, quit coffee and carbohydrate-rich foods are also good for improving mental stress.

Overall, the research team believes that the age of a person can affect the effects of diet on mental health. "The level of brain maturity, age-related changes may require dietary adjustments to positively improve mental health," they conclude.

Next, they will study whether the impact of diet on mental health will be different because of gender. After all, men and women also have different brain structures.

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