Book Description
The World Health Organization approximates that 350 million people worldwide are affected by depression and anxiety as a leading cause of disability worldwide (World Health Organization, 2018). Nutritional Psychiatry as “Mental Health Nutrition” is an emerging field that explores the changes that how nutritional interventions can maintain one's mental health. Researches indicate that the foods we consume significantly influence our brain function and gut health, which in turn shape our mental health and behaviour. Ensuring dietary intake of essential vitamins and minerals is vital for optimal mental health. Minerals, especially choline, zinc, magnesium, iron and iodine have important roles in neurological function through production of neurotransmitters. Insufficient levels of vitamins: Vitamin D, Folic Acid and Vitamin B Complex give a rise in levels of both anxiety and depression. Methylation is an important process in the body that prevents the build-up of homocysteine, a substance that may be toxic to the brain. Folate and vitamin B12 are both crucially required to prevent accumulation of homocysteine that may be toxic to brain. Similarly, omega-3 fatty acids and amino acid- specially tryptophan is needed to create a mood-modulating chemicals serotonin and functioning of nervous system. Besides the foregoing, cysteine, a sulphur-based amino acid gets converted into glutathione: the body’s most powerful antioxidant. When cysteine is given as a supplement known as N-acetyl cysteine, itis converted into glutathione, evidently helpful in treatment of bipolar depression, schizophrenia, and other neurotic and addictive behaviours. Conclusively nutritional psychiatry is supplementation of essential nutrients should be acknowledged as a treatment to maintain good mental health and wellbeing.
