Dietitians Week 8-14 April 2024
With the increasing statistical numbers in the cases of anxiety, depression, affective, or substance use disorders, now is the time to consider how what we eat impacts how we feel and our mental health.
Evidence shows that our brains “talk” to our digestive system via the gut-brain axis. Our gut microbiota (the bugs living in our gut) are important in this communication pathway and in regulating our immune systems. Fruits, vegetables and nuts are examples of foods that have a positive impact on our gut microbiota. As well as probiotic foods that contain beneficial live bacteria such as fermented foods - kefir, yogurt with live active cultures, pickled vegetables, tempeh, kombucha tea, kimchi, miso and sauerkraut.
Nourishing mind, body and brain
The theme for this year’s National Dietitians Week discusses “Nourishing mind, body and brain”, raising awareness of the link between nutrition and mental health. One in five Australians are estimated to live with a mental health condition. Lifestyle-based approaches that include nutrition intervention form part of the evidence-based guidelines for the management and improvement of symptoms of some of these conditions.
According to the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine’s Clinical practice guidelines for lifestyle based mental health care for major depressive disorder, ultra –processed foods have been associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms. Ultra-processed foods typically have five or more ingredients. They tend to include many additives and ingredients that are not typically used in home cooking, such as preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners and artificial colours and flavours. Examples include sweetened breakfast cereals, soft drinks, flavoured potato chips, white bread, energy drinks, biscuits, instant soup, noodles and sauces, hot dogs and pies and sausage rolls. Whereas an increased intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, oily fish and water has been associated with a reduction in symptoms.
Accredited Practicing Dietitians are university-qualified nutrition experts who work within an evidence-based, patient-centred framework, providing personalised dietary and nutrition assessment, advice and counselling to improve physical and mental health of their patients.
Tammy Hine, Patricia Crawford and Stephanie Samantha are based at St John of God Midland Hospital, and are Accredited Practicing Dietitians.
