The Center for Disease Control released a study in 2017 which shows that only one in 10 Americans gets their daily allotment of fruits and vegetables.
Ironically, despite those numbers, Dr. David Ramsey says that most Americans are overfed on calories. Ramsey has written three books about dietary issues and feels that a strong connection exists between what we eat and how we feel.
Specifically, he feels that the food we eat directly contributes to our mental wellbeing. It starts at an early age too. Ramsey argues that the way we eat is a driving factor in depression. According to a report from the World Health Organization, depression is the leading disability driver in Americans aged 15-44.
The Mediterranean Diet has popped up and provided us another view of what wellness can look like and according to Dr. Lisa Mosconi, the director of the Women’s Brain Initiative at the Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York:
“Our imaging studies show that the brains of people who follow a Mediterranean-style diet typically look younger, have larger volumes and are more metabolically active than people who eat a more typical Western diet.”
This is a diet high in nutrients, fiber and seafood and according to Mosconi could help defend the brain against the onset of dementia.
The studies just keep rolling. This trial demonstrated higher levels of mental health and well-being for those who ate more fresh fruits and vegetables. Freshness is important here because those in the study who got their fruits and vegetables canned, did not see the same benefits.
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