Study reveals the secret of good nutrition for mental and cognitive health

It's nothing new that following a balanced diet is the secret to a healthier life physically and mentally. However, not everyone knows what the essential characteristics are to achieve a satisfactory vitamin level for the body. For this reason, a new study, published in Nature Mental Healthanalyzed a group of people who practiced four different types of diets and, thus, concluded the best model to achieve better mental health and cognitive function.

Scientific methodology

The research examined the eating patterns of more than 180,000 UK adults, dividing them into four groups: starch-free or reduced-starch diet, vegetarian, high protein and low fiber intake, and balanced (no restrictions). Most participants fell into the “balanced” category, and these people had better outcomes for mental health and cognitive function than the other groups.

Those who followed a high-protein/low-fiber diet resulted in less gray matter in a region of the brain related to movement. On the other hand, vegetarian dieters had larger volumes of gray matter in parts of the brain responsible for transmitting sensory information.

The study concludes that a balanced diet, without specific food restrictions, is associated with better mental health and cognitive function. However, it is important to consider other factors, such as sleep quality, physical exercise and stress management, to obtain additional benefits.

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_{One of the diets analyzed was vegetarian (Photo: reproduction/Getty Images Embed)}

The problem with restrictive diets

In addition to this research, a study carried out by researchers from Brazil and Portugal investigated the reasons why people adopt restrictive diets. The research, conducted by scientists from Unesp, Unifal and the University Institute of Psychological, Social and Life Sciences, with support from FAPESP, found that the main reasons for this practice were health, mood, weight control, ethical concerns and consumption of products natural.

On the other hand, researchers warn that highly restrictive diets can cause biopsychosocial difficulties, such as nutrient deficiencies, inflexible and obsessive behaviors, withdrawal from social environments and emotional suffering, in line with the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population, which recommends a healthy diet. without severe restrictions.

Featured photo: Healthy foods (Reproduction/Getty Images Embed)