Two British advocacy groups say that a better diet could mean better mental health.
"We are well aware of the effect of diet upon our physical health," Dr. Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, told the BBC. "But we are only just beginning to understand how the brain as an organ is influenced by the nutrients it derives from the foods we eat and how diets have an impact on our mental health."
There is little conclusive research so far. Advocates say that a diet short in omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, helps spur depression, while schizophrenia, ADHD and Alzheimer's disease also have dietary links.
A report, Feeding Minds, points to dietary changes in recent decades, including changes in the nutrition content of chickens and other animals because of factory farming.
© Copyright 2006 by United Press International
