We all know gorging on junk food and sweet treats is bad for our waistline.
But eating processed foods might actually cause mental illness too, researchers claim.
Dr Julia Rucklidge, of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, said processed foods are causing an ‘epidemic’ of mental illness.
She believes the shift from eating foods made from whole ingredients to junk food and takeaways has caused rates of mental illness, and drugs like anti-depressants to spiral, the New Zealand Herald reports.
‘Our diet has changed so rapidly over 50 years that it’s hard not to believe that it’s having some impact on our mental health,’ she said.
Eating processed foods might not only be bad for our waistlines but could cause mental illness too, claims Dr Julia Rucklidge, of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Dr Rucklidge is researching the link between nutrition and disorders like depression, anxiety, ADHD, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
‘My work shows that, because we show an impact of using vitamins and minerals on mental health, it simply proves the point that the diet these people are eating is simply not adequately meeting their nutritional needs.’
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In an interview with the New Zealand Listener last year, she said her team is studying whether multivitamin formulas, sold under the brand names NutraTek and Truehope, can help with mental health disorders.
The supplements include vitamins A, C, D, E, B vitamins, thiamin, riboflavin, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, potassium and some amino acids.
Overall, between 60 and 80 per cent of people in these trials respond to treatment with the micronutrient formulae, she said.
She added previous research shows:
- High-quality fish oil can help create new brain cells and reduce inflammation in the body.
- S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe), a sulphur-containing compound, can help regulate people’s mood.
- The amino acid N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can help people with bipolar depression, schizophrenia and compulsive and addictive behaviours.
- A Mediterranean-type diet – rich in fruit, vegetables, seafood, olive oil, nuts and legumes – has been found to lower the risk of depression and anxiety.
Previous research has shown high quality fish oils can help create new brain cells and reduce inflammation in the body, Dr Rucklidge said
While she is confident supplements help the brain it is not clear by which mechanism the nutrients lower symptoms of mental illness.
‘It might be [the micronutrients] are assisting the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, to work more effectively,’ Dr Rucklidge told New Zealand Listener journalists.
‘Or we are giving the body nutrients to help reduce inflammation or oxidative stress [when harmful molecules damage cells, causing the body to age]’
‘Or we are just providing the body with what it needs in order for it to function effectively. Micronutrients do seem to work on so many different levels.’
Next Saturday, she will speak at the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association conference.
Dr Rucklidge’s research revealed vitamin and mineral supplements reduced the symptoms of people with both ADHD and PTSD when compared to a placebo (file photo)
Her research has found that 64 per cent of people with ADHD given supplements showed fewer symptoms over eight weeks, compared to 37 per cent given a placebo.
Another of her studies was carried out on people with high stress levels after the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.
She found symptoms of PTSD fell from 65 per cent to 19 per cent among people receiving extra vitamins and minerals.
This was compared to an increase from 44 per cent to 48 per cent in a group that did not get the supplements.
As a result, she believes Governments should consider giving out vitamin and mineral tablets after disasters like earthquakes.