The Food Programme - Feeding Your Brain
The link between the food we consume on a daily basis and our mental health is a topic that Think Through Nutrition ardently believes should be at the forefront of public
awareness.
‘Feeding the brain’, an episode
of BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Food Programme’ delves deep into this connection.
The programme covers how the right nutrients can help to fight against the development and severity of many diseases and mental health disorders, including depression and Alzheimer’s. The enlightening discussions feature esteemed members of the Think Through Nutrition Board and Science Advisory Council (SAC):
Brain health pioneer and TTN’s SAC member, Prof. Michael Crawford, who warned 50+ years ago about the impending 'brain disorders' epidemic, shares his insights.
Kimberley Wilson, Chartered Psychologist and one of our trustees, sheds light on how food shapes our behaviour, emotions, and overall identity.
Dr. Simon Dyall, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Neuroscience at University of Roehampton and a member of our SAC, contributes his vast knowledge on the essentiality of omega-3 fatty acids in brain function, connecting the dots between diet and mental health. He highlights the importance of omega 3 fatty acids to the brain in helping to 'turn off' inflammation which is believed to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's.
Dr. Allesandra Borsini, Senior Research Fellow at Kings College, explains how depression sufferers who do not respond to antidepressants have higher levels of inflammation in the body. This affects the hippocampus, a part of the brain responsible for controlling mood. Omega 3 fatty acids were able to reduce the symptoms experienced by those suffering from depression.
Prof. Felice Jacka, Lecturer and Director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, stresses the importance of a diet based on unprocessed foods for mental health. The link between consuming (ultra-)processed foods and decreased mental health across research papers (such as the SMILEs Trial) points towards a need for change. A change that can only be initiated by both consumer purchase behaviour and industry supply.
