There’s no argument that the right food and exercise help keep our bodies in good nick, but do they matter for our mental health too?

Last month Spanish researchers put the food-mood link on the table again with a study of 8964 people that found that those eating the most junk -  meaning commercial baked goods like croissants and doughnuts, and fast food like burgers and pizza – were more likely to be depressed than those who ate little or none. It’s one of a few studies now suggesting that too much over-processed food could be bad for our mood, while a more Mediterranean-style menu with fish, fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, olive oil and grains may improve it. Still, it’s hard to know what comes first – does eating junk contribute to a low mood, or do we eat junk because we’re feeling bad?

But if croissants get the thumbs down for mental health, weight loss approaches emphasising low-carb, high-protein diets aren’t helpful either – they can affect levels of the feel good hormone serotonin, says Tara Diversi, an Accredited Practising Dietitian.  Diversi, who has a special interest in both mental health and sports nutrition, will challenge the high protein message – popular with some personal trainers – when she speaks at the fitness industry’s annual convention, FILEX, in Sydney next weekend. [Read more...]

Eating together as a family leads to healthier children who are less likely to be overweight, according to a major review.

Nutritional scientists have found that children from homes where the family regularly gathers around the dinner table tend to eat more fruit and vegetables than those from homes where mealtimes are not a central focus of the day.

They are also less likely to be overweight or obese, as measured by body mass index (BMI).

Researchers at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, in the US, made their conclusions after analysing results from 68 separate academic studies. [Read more...]