Relationship Between Diet and Mental Health in Adolescents

Adolescents as defined by WHO represents children aged between 10-18 years. Growth spurt is generally seen among infants and adolescents. Growth is largely dependent on our diet, mental well-being and exercise. We are what we eat and the best part is it is in our control to decide what we eat and what we feed to our families. Undoubtedly food has mental, physical, emotional and even spiritual effect on our mind and body. Research has already proven the link between diet and mental health which is really important for children and teens. Various studies have shown that teens these days are more inclined towards fast foods, aerated drinks, even drugs and liquors are now part of their eating habits. Binge eating disorder is also one of the problems seen among adolescents, which further leads to various disorders and diseases. Diets which include burgers, pizzas containing large quantities of all the three whites i.e. sugar, salt and refined flour (maida) is actually not recommended for any age group and has further found to increase levels of depression, anxiety, mood swings, hyperactivity and wide variety of other mental and emotional problems. Such type of diets are just expanding our waistlines and starving and shrinking brain cells of our youth. Phytochemicals from plant sources and fish from animal source are known to play an important role to stay happy and to prevent damage to our brain cells. In the present article we will be dealing with above quoted aspect which really is the need of the day.