Physical and sexual health

The question of whether what someone eats can affect their mental health has increasingly become a focus of research over the last decade. It has attracted such interest because of changes to the western diet (and lifestyle) that have seen a move away from traditional food intake to a diet high in sugar, fat and nutrient-poor and processed foods. The focus on whether an improved diet can improve mental health is also part of a wider effort to increase the availability of low-cost, low-risk interventions that can target modifiable risk factors for mental illnesses (e.g. exercise interventions). This research bulletin explores the latest evidence on the relationship between diet and outcomes for depression and anxiety.