Women’s Mental Health Has Higher Association With Dietary Factors: Study

Mental Health and Dietary Factors: According to a recent study by Binghamton University, the mental health of women has a higher association with dietary factors as compared to that of men's. The paper has been written by Lina Begdache, an assistant professor of health and wellness studies at Binghamton University, who has previously published a research study that suggests that a high-quality diet improves mental health.

The current research paper named, "Customization of Diet May Promote Exercise and Improve Mental Wellbeing in Mature Adults: The Role of Exercise as a Mediator" got published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine on 19 May this year.

After publishing her earlier study on how a high-quality diet improves mental health, Begdache wanted to test if diet among men and women of ages 30 or older improves their mental health. Along with her research assistant Cara M. Patrissy, Begdache studied different food groups and their relation with mental health in women and men and found that dietary factors affect women's mental health more than men.

Mental Health and Dietary Factors: Here are 8 key points from the study

1. - Quality of diet in women plays an important role in balancing their stress level and mental health as compared to men.
2. - Mental distress and exercise in women have a higher association with their lifestyle patterns and diet.
3. - Women with an unhealthy diet are found to have a higher level of mental distress than men.
4. - According to Begdache, a healthy diet and regular exercise can prove to be a solid defence against mental distress in mature women.
5. - Skipping breakfast, consumption of fast food and caffeine, and high-glycemic (HG) food are related to mental distress.
6. - The level of mental distress can be decreased with the intake of fruits and green leafy vegetables.
7. - Regular exercise can also significantly reduce the negative association of high-glycemic (HG) food with mental distress.
8. - Researchers are also conducting a parallel study in young women and men on the relation between diet quality, sleep schedule and seasonal changes.