The impact of nutrition on mental health and academic performance among university students: Exploring the interplay between dietary habits and academic success

This review describes the relationship between nutrition and mental health and academic performance among higher education institutional students, underlining dietary effects on cognitive functioning and mood. Generally, university life is associated with stressors that often culminate in adverse eating patterns, which could have disastrous implications for mental health and academic performance. The review, therefore, ascertains that healthy diets-in comes the Mediterranean diet-improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety to enhance academic success. Omega-3 fatty acids, B-complex vitamins, and antioxidants have played major roles in cognitive performance and mental stability. The interrelationship of food insecurity and stress to academic performance considers the need for university-based interventions in nutritional education and access to affordable, healthy meals. It points out the lack of literature in many areas, such as the use of longitudinal studies and research of a more culturally diverse nature; it also provides an overall conceptual framework that might help explain how nutrition might interrelate with both mental health and academic achievement.