What you eat affects your mental health

Your diet appears to play a large role in your mental health, according to new research from Binghamton University. In a study published in the journal Nutrients, researchers analyzed the diets, exercise routines, and lifestyles of 2,600 participants. They found that for young women, eating breakfast daily, getting moderate exercise frequently, and keeping fast food and caffeine consumption down improved their mental health. Adding regular fruits did so as well for older women. For younger men, dairy and meat consumption and daily exercise increased their mental health. Eating nuts every day also helped older men. What was particularly interesting was the finding of mental distress in older adults who regularly consumed caffeine and foods with poor nutritional quality.