The Western Diet mainly consists of fried foods, refined grains, sugar, high carbohydrate and fats, and meats (3). It has been hypothesized that having a Western Diet increases one’s chances for developing depression. There has been a great deal of research into why the western diet increase’s one chance of having depression. A common sense reason maybe that the Western Diet consisted of large amounts carbohydrates, fats and sugars which promotes obesity and then causes depression (1). More scientific evidence suggest that having a improper diet like the Western Diet negatively affects peripheral and central dopamine, which are neurotransmitters (chemical which transmit signals across the synapse from the nerve cell to the target cell) directly linked to the mental health of the brain and are negatively affected by high fat diets (4). Research has also suggested that having a poor nutrition status such as lacking folate (a natural water form of vitamin bg which is crucial for many of the bodies processes) and key vitamins like vitamin b12 significantly increases the risk of depression in elderly people (5). Research into the topic of dietary habits and mental health is very crucial with the growing rates of obesity and depression in the United States compared to the rest of the world. Thus, does having poor dietary habits increase the likelihood of having depression? The likelihood of developing depression has been linked to the type of diet one consumes such as the Western Diet, Diets Low in Fat and Carbohydrates and weight control diets like binge eating.
America’s obesity rates and depression rates continue to proportionally rise every year compared to the rest of the world (3). Is a Western Diet, which is a diet that mainl...
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...brain and malnutrition. Therefore, one’s diet is not only crucial for the physical well being but also their mental.
Works Cited
1. Brinkworth, G.D. et al. Long-term Effects of a Very Low-Carbohydrate Diet and a Low-Fat Diet on Mood and Cognitive Function. Archives of Internal Medicine,169:1873-1880, 2009.
2. Cohen, J. et al. Psychological Distress Is Associated with Unhealthful Dietary Practices. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 102:699-703, 2002.
3. Jacka, F.N. et al. Association of Western and Traditional Diets with Depression and Anxiety in Women. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 167: 305-11, 2010.
4. Wardlaw, G.M. and Smith. Contemporary Nutrition: Issues and Insights. 5th Edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill, pp 85, 2004.
5. Williamson, C. Dietary Factors and Depression in Older People. British Journal of Community Nursing, 14:422-426, 2009.
Michael Pollan, an American author, journalist, activist, and professor of journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism (Michael Pollan), writes in his book In Defense of Food, the dangers of nutritionism and how to escape the Western diet and subsequently most of the chronic diseases the diet imparts. In the chapter “Nutritionism Defined” Pollan defines the term nutritionism. Pollan’s main assertion being how the ideology of nutritionism defines food as the sum of its nutrients, and from this viewpoint Pollan goes on to write how nutritionism divides food into two categories, with each macronutrient divided against each other as either bad or good nutrients, in a bid for focus of our food fears and enthusiasms. Finally, Pollan concludes that with the relentless focus nutritionism places on nutrients and their interplay distinctions between foods become irrelevant and abandoned.
Michael Pollan states in his article “Escape from the Western diet”, three simple rules to follow to obtain a healthy lifestyle, “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants” (426). The food industry and medical community manipulate us to believe we are escaping the Western diet but to only find out that we are right back to where we started. Pollan provides some easy rules of thumb so that we aren’t caught up in the latest trends or diets but instead develop some eating boundaries that seem simple to follow on an everyday basis. Personally for me, following these rules can seem hard in some aspects but also easy in others because factors like role models when I was a kid, living situation and cooking skills effect my ability to follow the three
Escape from the Western Diet, by Michael Pollen, is about the argument of what is best for people to consume in order to avoid certain ailments caused by what they eat. There are many who believe certain factors such as eating too much fat or refined carbohydrates or missing certain nutrients are to blame for the poor state of health of westerners. The reason for that is that it provides for a quick easy answer to dieting issues. The author believes that all these things may have some contribution to poor health but the overall nemesis is the western diet itself.
In “Food as Thought: Resisting the Moralization of Eating” by, Mary Maxfield (pp.442-447), she affirms a bright argument about how food is not moral or immoral. Therefore, you can eat whatever you desire and not suffer any negative side effects, which she ignores. Her key points including stated facts such as “Culturally,we resist these scientific findings,” that people can be fat and healthy, “in favor of a perspective that considers fatness fatal and thinness immortal.”(pp.445) The main point to Maxfield’s claim in healthy eating, is being active and living a fit lifestyle. In “Escape From The Western Diet” (pp.420-427)by Michael Pollan, his argument is to help the American community be enlightened with
Ross, C. E. (1999). Overweight and depression. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 35(1), 63-79.
Proper nutrition is important in maintaining a long and healthy life. Most Americans are rushed due to their busy work schedules, and do not take the time to plan their diets properly. Like me, most Americans are unaware of the importance of eating a healthy diet and consume too many foods without the proper nutrients. Throughout my life I have been fortunate. I have not had any major health problems, and have been able to consume most foods without having to worry about gaining weight. These last two years, however, I started to gain weight and have become concerned with my diet. Changing my poor eating habits has been difficult for me, however, having this assignment has taught me that it is not as difficult as I previously imagined.
Calioglu, Arpi. “Eating Healthy.” Total Health 17 (1995): 42. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Roesch Library, Dayton. 18 Oct. 2002 <http://library.udayton.edu>.
In “Food Myths: What Science Knows (and Does Not Know) About Diet and Nutrition,” Harriet Hall differentiates between the myths and the reality of food and dieting, and answers the question of what food people should eat. She dispels myths with compelling results from scientific research, and incorporates an evolutionary stand point to explain how humans are “remarkably adaptable” when it comes to food. She also exposes the dietary industry and establishes the truth behind diets; they are basically a method to make people “tolerate a lower calorie intake.” More than anything, Hall makes it a point to clarify that no food is neither good or bad, in fact, different diets work for different people, but the bottom line is, the best plan to follow
Most Americans do not care enough to take a look at the nutritional values of the food that he or she is consuming. That is why America has the highest percentage of obesity in the world. This is a serious problem because one in every three adults is obese, and one in every six children is obese. There are many factors that go into the regular American diet, but most of those factors are not appealing nor is it healthy. Americans put way too much processed food into their daily diet. Some would say that other countries diets superior the American diet because of nutritional values that it carries. Other countries have proven that an active lifestyle is a huge element in the average weight of the country. There are many things that Americans could change about their diets and lifestyle that would help them to become healthier.
The poor food choices that men and women make is the cause of many illnesses, disease and chronic health conditions. Men and women generally have different thoughts and choices on the topic of healthy food. People’s bad health may be genetically occurred or their exposure to their past nutritional education was not helpful, but their bad health is primarily based upon the poor choices that the individuals choose in daily life.
Choices that are unhealthy such as having a lot of sweets and low nutrient value food can undermine mental health. ‘Research is increasingly showing that healthy fats such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, as well as the fat found in fruits such as avocados, can boost brain power and improve mood. And for those with a sweet tooth, dark chocolate is a much healthier way to indulge.’(3)
His proposal that food can be medicine was derived from the knowledge of chemical elements that are found in food. Deficiency in these elements cause chemical imbalances which can lead to depression. There are nine different types of depression; our focus is on minor but chronic type of depression, Dysthymia. This form of depression is characterized by at least two years of depressed mood. It is accompanied by additional depressive symptoms that don’t meet major depression criteria. Although, Dysthymia is not as severe as major depression, it is at high risk in developing major depression if not properly managed. It is estimated that more than three million Americans over the age 18 suffer from minor depression (Greenblatt 11). Many people know the fact that nutritional deficiencies contribute to physical illness; however, only a few are aware of the connection between nutrition and depression. Depressed usually suffer from chemical imbalances called neurotransmitters, specifically serotonin. According to Greenblatt, doctors are very quick into prescribing medication to treat this illness but to treat depression with
The general topic to be discussed in this research plan is nutrition, peoples eating habits and what impacts it has on them. The diet a person has can either have a positive or negative impact on the body; this research will look into how particular diets affect academic performance. Past research on the topic suggest that a well-nourished diet has positive impacts on academic performance. The literature review will give detailed information on past findings, research methods and conclusions on the topic. Furthermore, it will include a discussion on why people still eat unhealthy food when they know it is bad for them. At the completion of the literature review, the aim of the research will be stated, dependent and independent variables will be identified and finally the concepts of the plan will be defined.
Over the past 40 years, obesity found in children from ages 6 to 19 has tripled (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation). Obesity rates are exceedingly high in children, but it is more frequent in adults. In 1985, none of the states in the U.S. surpassed an adult obesity rate of 15%, today those numbers have over doubled to 36.5% (CDC) as well as the number of fast food outlets (OAC). Unfortunately, If obesity is found in a person, there are most likely other physical and mental issues not too far behind. The mental impact on one’s brain due to unhealthy eating can be quite overwhelming. Eating a fast food diet results in loss of brain cells, therefore anxiety and depression are common as well as not being able to handle them. Because of the lack of control one has over depression and anxiety, they resort back to junk food, seeking relief, but it will only last for as long as they’re eating it (Fleck). Eating a junk food diet can affect all major aspects of the physical body, depending on the proportions and already present health issues. The main components in fast food consist of sodium, fat, and sugar, sadly those are also the main ingredients in heart disease, diabetes, and cancer (Pietrangelo and Carey). Fast food wouldn’t be such an issue if it offered more nutritional values, but this deficiency causes more unwanted health issues in
Yet, this knowledge has not turned many to healthy eating habits, or lifestyle behavior changes. Think of the millions of websites, diet drugs, infomercials, and fad diets that are out there trying to persuade us to eat this or that, or whatever we like, and still be healthy. We all know, deep down, that these are not solutions, and that many are unhealthy and harmful to our bodies. Still we try many of them. All of us reluctant to change our eating, and exercising habits. Until finally the day comes when we are told we are facing a serious illness, which was most likely caused by a lack of nutrition and over eating. Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, stroke, and heart disease are just a few health problems that many Americans are suffering from as a result of being overweight. Conventional wisdom says that since a calorie is a calorie, regardless of its source, the best advice for weight control is simply to eat less and exercise more. Yet emerging research suggests that some foods and eating patterns may make it easier to keep calories in check, while others may make people more likely to overeat. (source