Invective, profanity, violent remarks… The hate speech that is currently spreading in the public sphere is often attributed to social networks. What if the main cause of this development of bitter reactions was rather on our plates? This is what an article by Science Alert.
The role of diet on physical health is already well known to the population. Researchers in the field of nutrition and health are therefore now trying to make people understand that the quality of food also has a significant impact on brain health. Bonnie Kaplan and Julia Rucklidge, authors of The Better Brain, have shown that a large number of people in our society suffer from “brain hunger”, a phenomenon that would inevitably have consequences on the regulation of our emotions.
If our consumption of macronutrients is sufficient, on the other hand we lack micronutrients – minerals and vitamins – partly because of our excessive consumption of ultra-processed products, such as soft drinks, too sweet cereals or even chicken nuggets. . For example, in Canada, in 2004, 48% of the calorie intake of citizens of all ages came from ultra-processed products, foods that contain very few of these micronutrients, necessary for the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine.
More vegetables, less anxiety
The scientific evidence that micronutrient intake does influence our mood is still vast. A dozen studies conducted in Canada, Spain, Japan and Australia have shown that people who eat a healthy and complete diet have fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety than people whose diet is mainly composed of of ultra-processed products. In a third of people with depression who ate relatively poor diets, switching to a Mediterranean diet – rich in fruits and vegetables, legumes and unsaturated fats – resulted in significant improvements in their mood.
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Thus, since “brain hunger” is an important factor in emotional regulation, a well-nourished population is better able to resist stress. Be careful not to underestimate the role of Twitter in the current loss of civility.
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