The importance of Nutritional and Lifestyle Medicine in Mental Health and Wellbeing: A focus on depression
Mental health and wellbeing are critically and significantly important to everyone.
~ Mental health is a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, to realise their abilities, to learn well and work well, and to contribute to their communities.
~ Mental health is an integral component of health and wellbeing and is more than the absence of mental disorder.
The prevalence of mental health conditions is on the rise.
~ Between 2020 and 2023 42.9% of Australians aged 16-85 years experienced a mental health condition at some time in their life.
Depression is a common, multifactorial, recurrent, and debilitating health condition.
~ Depression is characterised by depressed mood, sadness, anxiety, irritability, agitation, loss of interest in activities, insomnia, lethargy, and decreased energy.
~ There are many pieces to the puzzle of depression.
~ There is a strong link between mental and physical health.
Optimum nutrition and lifestyle medicine play major roles in improving mental health and wellbeing. The following are utilised in the management of depression:
~ Diet and nutrition
~ Herbal medicines
~ Exercise and physical activity
~ Meditation
~ Mindfulness
~ Nature and “green space”
~ Music
~ Sleep
The focus of any management plan is on treating the whole person and is holistic in nature.
This article aims to highlight the importance of mental health and wellbeing, with a focus on depression, and discusses the importance of nutritional medicine (such as diets, B vitamins, Vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, omega-3, probiotics, and water), and lifestyle medicine (such as exercise, meditation, music, social interaction, yoga and sleep) in the management of depression.
Reference: McEwen B, Martin T. The importance of Nutritional and Lifestyle Medicine in Mental Health and Wellbeing: A focus on depression. JATMS 2023; 29(4): 188-195.
For informational purposes only. Always talk to a health professional. Follow the directions for use.
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