Citation
(2008), "Government advisors recommend "food for the brain" campaign", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 38 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2008.01738cab.047
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Government advisors recommend "food for the brain" campaign
Article Type: Food Facts From: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 38, Issue 3.
A significant contributor to the increasing rate of crime, aggression, depression and poor school performance is poor nutrition. That is the conclusion of the Parliamentary Food and Health Forum, who issue a report today urging for government to fund a campaign to research, increase awareness, and encourage us to eat more fish and whole foods, high in essential fats, vitamins and minerals. The Parliamentary Food and Health Forum want more money spent on researching the link between diet, nutritional supplements and mental health; doctors to be better educated; mental health patients to be checked for nutritional deficiencies as a first line procedure on the NHS; and government funded healthy breakfast clubs at schools; government campaigns promoting the importance of optimum nutrition for mental health.
Recent research has reported:
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Children with learning and behaviour problems improve focus, concentration and school grades when given essential fat supplements; and IQ scores when given multivitamins.
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Eating breakfast and a low glycaemic load diet, low in sugar, improves behaviour and concentration.
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Supplementing essential fats improves depression.
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Supplementing B vitamins improves depression and symptoms of schizophrenia, and stops or slows down memory decline in older people.
The food for the brain website, www.foodforthebrain.org, provides free on-line advice for those with mental health concerns.