The Powerful Role of the Body in Mental Health:
Healthy Eating
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food ….God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” GENESIS 1:29-31
After making humankind in His image, God directed Adam and Eve to the perfect diet. It was the diet of paradise: fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. And He looked upon it - seeing bright colors and varied shapes of abundant produce - and thought it was very good. It seems God delighted in providing beautiful, nourishing food, much like a parent who has put their heart into preparing an attractive, healthy meal for their family. It turns out that God’s original creative vision for nutrition is still the optimal diet. In fact, it is not a stretch to say that it is fit for royalty not only by way of flavor but also for the striking physical and mental benefits. Nutrition and mental health interact intimately. Across the lifespan, the developing human brain is profoundly impacted by what we eat. Longitudinal studies of adults show that high intake of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, dairy, and fish and low intake of sugar-containing beverages are associated with larger gray matter volume, white matter volume, and hippocampal volume.1 When children have a healthy diet, longitudinal data shows greater brain volume and better cognitive performance.2 Research proves that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats consistently improves happiness3 and life satisfaction4 while significantly decreasing the odds of depressive symptoms.5 Eating more produce even makes hard experiences feel less negative, providing a protective effect against significant stressors.6 On the other hand, a diet characterized by sugary7 and processed foods8 is linked to anxiety, depression, and overall poorer well-being.