[Trigger Warning: Discussion of eating / nutrition / diet]

Research published by Nutrition Journal found that people who regularly eat meat or chicken daily reported better moods and less stress after only 2 weeks on a strict vegetarian diet.

“Restricting meat, fish, and poultry improved some domains of short-term mood state in modern omnivores. To our knowledge, this is the first trial to examine the impact of restricting meat, fish, and poultry on mood state in omnivores.”

One reason seems to be that meat contains a long-chain omega-6 (n-6) fatty acid (arachidonic acid) that is associated with depressive symptoms.

The study also took another group of meat eaters and switched them to fish, which contain long-chain n-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Despite the reputation of these fats to improve mood, this group was not as happy and the freshly minted vegetarians.

Vegetarian diets avoid the long chain fatty acids, and are also rich in antioxidants that could have a positive effect on mood. The study also indicated that people eating vegetarian food may be able to deal with stress better than those eating non-vegetarian food. “Reducing meat, fish, and poultry may improve some domains of short-term mood state in modern omnivores,” the report concludes. “Exploring this phenomenon further is warranted, as reductions in dietary meat, fish, and poultry would not only reduce health risks but could benefit the environment as well.”

(Source)

This was a randomized controlled trial rather than a naturalistic correlation, which lends some scientific credibility to their method, but I think we need some repeat studies before we take these findings to heart.

What do you think? Not just in terms of an omni vs veg*an diet, but with your nutrition in general, do you believe in ‘food as medicine’? Are there some times when you feel that your mood is related to your dietary intake (this may be a discussion separate from, or related to EDs, depending on how you view it)?

Notes

  1. pascalwho reblogged this from mindovermatterzine and added:
    for better health?
  2. blissmanifesto said: Food IS medicine. However, to reduce omega-6 content, you could also do things like buying grass-fed animal meat, which is higher in omega-3. Or cut out vegetable oils which are often loaded with omega-6.
  3. rronrron answered: Got an answer for mindovermatterzine?
  4. recoveringmedstudent reblogged this from mindovermatterzine
  5. jepomme answered: I think I feel better when I can eat whatever I want and have no restrictions. Like, if I want to eat something, I do. That’s the best.
  6. valhallalagoon reblogged this from mindovermatterzine and added:
    This is cool but… A trigger warning? On food?
  7. goldstarsfortulip answered: Stable meals are necessary as a support for my mental illness. Many of my destructive symptoms can’t be handled/coped with as well without it
  8. mindovermatterzine posted this