Page 6 - 302 Health

Boost
Your
Mood
Studies suggest that certain foods play a role in our mental health. BY PAM GEORGE
When Dr. Michael Hurd counsels patients with anxiety or depres- sion, he often asks what they’re
eating. “If it’s not a balanced diet then that’s something to address right there,” says Hurd, a psychotherapist in Bethany Beach. “I would not suggest looking only at diet as playing a role in anxiety or de- pression, but it’s often part of the mix.”
He’s not the only one to spot a link. Studies suggest that food can influence brain neurotransmitter systems that affect mood—at least temporarily, ac- cording to an article in the Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science. The relationship, however, is complex and de- pends on the time of day, the food’s com- position, the amount and the subject’s overall health and dietary history. Never- theless, many choices that might improve your mood are good for you in other ways.
An Ancient Approach for Modern Studies
Hippocrates once said, “Let food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food.” If that’s the case, then you want the best medicine you can find. Ac- cording to Dr. Eva Selhub, a contributing editor to a Harvard Medical School health blog, the brain is much like a luxury car: it functions best when it gets premium fuel.
Mary Williams, a registered dietitian with Christiana Care Health System, agrees. “There is definitively some link be- tween food quality and mood,” she says.
Bryan Drain began researching how food could influence his mood when he
was diagnosed with depression. He be- came so interested in the subject that he wound up becoming a dietitian. Today he’s a medical nutrition therapist at Bee- be Healthcare.
Drain found a correlation between the freshness of his food and his mental outlook. Fruits, vegetables and meats are more nutrient-dense when they’re locally sourced, he says. “They’re not sitting on atruck,orinafreezeroronashelffora long period of time.”
Studies of traditional diets in the Med-
iterranean and Japan—which are high in vegetables, fruits, unprocessed grains and seafood—have shown that the risk of depression is 25- to-35-percent lower than the traditional Western diet.
Roller-Coaster Rides
“Low-premium fuel” includes diets high in processed or refined products. Sugar is a known pick-me-up. But proceed with caution. Even whole wheat toast with organic jam has its drawbacks.
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302Health issue 2.2017-18
Doug Ruley, corporate chef for Rehoboth Beach- based SoDel Concepts, prepares a salmon dish.
“It’s great for when you need serious
DIET & RECIPES
see recipe on next page
SODEL CONCEPTS