Why Diet and Nutrition Are Crucial for Mental Health

The saying “You are what you eat” has never rang more true than when it comes to brain health. We know that eating a lot of junk food is not good for the body. It increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other health issues. However, the impact on the brain is of crucial interest.

Diet and nutrition are crucial to anyone, especially children with special needs, as they may not consume a diverse range of foods. The brain requires high quality fuel containing vital antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins to protect against oxidative stress and promote healthy functions. The gut-brain connection is crucial to understand, as functional gastrointestinal disorders can affect brain functions and mental health. A diet high in sugar promotes inflammation, impairs brain functions, and increases worsening of mood disorders.

Food allergies and sensitivities can have a profound effect on physical and brain health, emotions, behavior, and actions, especially in children with ADHD or autism. Dietary changes can significantly reduce or improve symptoms in some cases.

According to research, children with autism spectrum disorders are often affected by eating disorders. They are likelier to want low-nutrition, energy-dense foods that increase oxidative radicals. The help of a nutritionist or dietician may be necessary to find ways to get healthier foods into their diet.

Nutrition is crucial for supporting neuroplasticity, especially a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Many children with special needs are “picky eaters.” Their preferences may lie in certain types of food, textures, or tastes. Some studies have shown that children on the autism spectrum may do better with a gluten-free or casein-free diet. A ketogenic diet has also been shown to benefit many children.

There are a few ways to check to see if your child has food allergies or sensitivities.  Your doctor may recommend seeing an allergist for blood or skin allergy testing.  Another option is food sensitivity testing, which you can do at home via mail-in kits from companies such as Everlywell and Check My Body Health. The in-depth reports from these companies can help you eliminate foods that might pose a problem. These tests show sensitivities, not allergies. Elimination diets can help you determine which foods affect your child’s health, actions, and emotions.

Incorporating different foods into a picky child’s diet may be difficult. Pureeing vegetables and adding them to pasta sauce, baking brownies with beans or avocados, making spinach and berry smoothies, and other sneaky tricks can help improve your child’s nutrition. You may need to use supplements when all else fails. Place platters and bowls of healthy foods out for easy snacking. The more ways you can get healthy foods into your child, the better it will be for brain health.