Mood and mental health: a diet for every age

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Extract from the article: Mood depends on the food we eat, and in terms of mental health, diet must change as we age. Thus, this study from Binghamton University (New York) presented in the journal « Nutritional Neuroscience » has several

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Mood depends on the food we eat, and in terms of mental health, diet must change as we age. Thus, this study from Binghamton University (New York) presented in the journal « Nutritional Neuroscience » has several implications: Diet and dietary practices affect mental health differently at different ages, and in essence, younger adults need more serotonin and dopamine, older adults need more antioxidants.

According to the researchers, dietary practices affect mental health differently at different ages: the mood of young adults appears to be sensitive to the accumulation of brain chemicals. Regular meat consumption leads to the accumulation of two key brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine, which are known to promote mood. Regular exercise also leads to the accumulation of these and other neurotransmitters.

In older adults, mood is more sensitive to regular consumption of antioxidant-rich foods and abstinence from nutrients that activate the stress response: as we age, free radical (oxidant) levels are higher so our need for antioxidants increases. Free radicals cause disruptions in the brain, which increases the risk of negative mood, stress or distress. In addition, as we age, our ability to regulate stress is reduced, so we should avoid excess foods that activate the stress response (such as coffee and excess carbohydrates).

Elom AKAKPO