Influence of nutrition on the brain | impact of nutrition on mental health - teenflixs

 INFLUENCE OF NUTRITION ON THE BRAIN

Nutrition is perhaps one of the most critical factors for human beings since it is their primary source of energy to carry out all their daily activities; on the other hand, since eating is an activity that is carried out daily, some People do not give enough importance to their care and take it for granted that taking care of it is easy.

And although factors such as the economy and culture influence our eating habits, misinformation created from myths and urban legends about what is supposed to be eaten and what is not is listed as the main reason for not making good food choices.

This is why education regarding how to manage adequate nutrition is becoming increasingly important in a world that, thanks to the declaration of the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition from 2016 to 2025, fights day by day against hunger. And malnutrition.

NUTRITION AND THE BRAIN

The brain, like the body, needs particular nutrients to maintain its performance at the highest level.

A branch of nutrition study and its impact on brain development called brain nutrition recommends including foods rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals in our diet since they are all essential for brain processes.

The impact of nutrition on the brain begins with the chemical signals that it receives as a result of the composition of each meal and that mainly affect neurotransmitters, which are responsible for sending information to our nervous system.

The effects of malnutrition are based on the duration and degree of the nutritional deficit as a function of the brain's need for a particular nutrient.

Taking care of nutrition can significantly influence our mood and behavior, even relieving depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders correctly.

For example, eating foods rich in carbohydrates and protein can help people with sleep disorders relax and sleep better. Drinking 1 to 2 liters of water can help keep the brain hydrated and exercise to oxygenate it.

POOR NUTRITION AND CONSEQUENCES

According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition is related to imbalances in a person's nutrient consumption. It should be noted that this definition not only refers to nutritional deficiencies understood by the term but also to its excesses.

The WHO establishes two main groups of conditions in general that result from malnutrition in people:

In the first group of conditions, we find malnutrition, which in addition to nutrient deficiencies, can cause conditions such as a person's growth retardation, causing them to be shorter than their age.

Malnutrition can also cause a person to be underweight for their height, a condition known as emaciation.

And in the second group of conditions, we find overweight, which is evident mainly in people who suffer from obesity, which can lead to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or strokes.

IMPACT OF NUTRITION ON COGNITIVE

Research shows that children living in very low-income families fail to acquire and develop the same verbal and cognitive skills that children living in families without significant financial hardship do.

In this research, the Commission on Social Determinants of Health of the World Health Organization (WHO) associates low resources as the reason these children have inadequate nutrition and said inadequate nutrition is the reason for their difficulty in acquiring the skills we mentioned above.

Impact of nutrition on cognitive

And although external factors also come into consideration, this study shows us the importance of nutrition in the development process of a human being, starting mainly from childhood and its effects mainly at the cognitive level.

However, the impact of nutrition on the brain does not stop there.

IMPACT OF NUTRITION ON MENTAL HEALTH

Studies from the UNAH postgraduate psychiatry journal show that including nutritional elements such as antioxidants, vitamin B12, and amino acids, among others, are of great importance in the diet for the treatment of patients with mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, and dementia.

In this research, they verified that if they could improve the brain's nutritional bases, they could improve the efficiency of the results of therapies to overcome depression.

These investigations about the importance of nutrition in terms of mental health do not stop surprising us; the psychological and neurological effects of nutritional deficiencies have been verified in different investigations.

To cite an example, in these investigations, it was found that vitamin B12 deficiency can cause memory loss and even depression; the evidence is that nutritional deficiency is widespread in people with depression.

EFFECTS OF POOR NUTRITION ON THE BRAIN OF CHILDREN

A brain that lacks nutrients can manifest concentration problems; children who have poor nutrition will feel exhausted frequently and have difficulties when learning; this is because the wrong substances in the blood can create brain imbalances.

Various studies show that inattention and hyperactivity may be related to an excessive intake of sugar and fast foods since children who do not eat a healthy breakfast are more likely to suffer from metabolic deficiency syndromes in adulthood.

CONCLUSION ON THE EFFECTS OF POOR NUTRITION ON THE BRAIN

The brain has a much higher energy requirement than that of the other organs of the human being. For this reason, it's classified as one of the most important organs. Together with the nervous system, they depend on essential fats, omega 6 and omega 3, whose importance lies in the fact that the body cannot produce them.

Omega 3 fatty acids are found mainly in olive oil, nuts, and almonds, among others; omega 6 fatty acids are found in seeds and vegetable oils such as sunflower.

It is recommended to consume whole foods and many servings of fruits and vegetables daily and avoid fried, processed foods and foods with high levels of saturated fat and sugar.