Children who eat more fruits and vegetables have better mental health

Around 10 to 20% of adolescents in the world suffer from a mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression, depending on World Health Organization. It has also been shown that half of all mental health problems start at age 14. Given the importance and importance of adolescence in a person’s life, it is extremely important find ways to protect or improve the mental well-being of children and adolescents.

We already know how precious they are good nutrition and diet for physical health, which is why experts recommend aiming five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. More recently, research has also started to suggest that nutrition could influence mental health. Although more research is still needed in this area, a recent study found this A more nutritious diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, and healthier breakfasts and lunches were associated with better mental well-being in children.

The investigation was conducted by the University of East Anglia (UEA) in collaboration with the Norfolk County Council. The principal investigator, the professor Ailsa Welch, of UEA Norwich School of Medicine, assured: “Although they are well understood the links between nutrition and physical health, Until now, it was not clear whether nutrition plays a role in the emotional well-being of children. Therefore, we set out to investigate the association between food choices and mental well-being in schoolchildren ”.

The academic team studied data from nearly 9,000 children in 50 Norfolk schools (7,570 secondary and 1,253 primary) taken from Norfolk Child and Youth Health and Well-Being Survey. Children who participated in the study reported their food choices and participated in mental wellness tests age appropriate which included play, relaxation and good interpersonal skills.

“In terms of nutrition, we have found that Only about a quarter of high school students and 28% of elementary students reported eating the recommended fruits and vegetables each day. And just under one in ten children ate neither fruits nor vegetables. In addition, more than one in five secondary school students and one in 10 primary school students did not eat breakfast. And more than one in 10 high school students didn’t eat breakfast, ”Welch added.

The association between nutritional factors and mental well-being and other factors that could have an impact were taken into account, such as adverse childhood experiences and home situations. “We discovered that good nutrition was associated with better mental well-being in children. And In high school students in particular, there was a very close link between a nutritious diet, stuffed with fruits and vegetables, and have better mental well-being ”, Explain Richard Hayhoe, also some UEA Norwich School of Medicine.

“In addition, continues the specialist, we have found that the types of breakfast and lunch consumed by elementary and middle school students were significantly associated with well-being. The children who had a traditional breakfast they lived a better well-being than those who only had a snack or a drink. But the high school students they took energy drinks for breakfast they had particularly low mental well-being scores, even shorter than children who have not had breakfast at all ”.

According to data revealed by experts, in a class of 30 high school students, around 21 will have consumed a conventional breakfast, and at least four will not have eaten or drunk anything before starting class in the morning. “Likewise, at least three students will attend afternoon classes without lunch. It is concern and it is likely to affect not only academic performance in school, but also physical growth and development. “Another interesting thing that we found is that nutrition had as much or more of an impact on well-being as factors such as witnessing regular arguments or violence in the home ”.

“As a potentially modifiable factor at the individual and social level, nutrition is an important public health goal for strategies to improve the mental well-being of children. Public health strategies and school policies should be developed to ensure that all children have access to good quality nutrition, both before and during school, in order to optimize mental well-being and enable children to children to develop to their full potential, ”he concluded. Welsh.

How to get kids to eat everything without punishment or fits

It is well known that moms and dads struggle to get their kids to eat enough vegetables. Recently, a scientific study by Australian experts published in the International Journal of Environmental and Public Health Research revealed the most and least effective parenting tactics to ensure children get five per day.

The researchers examined 80 studies on the health industry who identified selective feeding in children under the age of 10, primarily based on parental reports and recollections, and found that a more relaxed parenting style, eat together as a family and involve a child in the preparation of meals, all reduces the likelihood of difficult eating.

On the contrary, pressuring a child to eat, strict parenting, and offering rewards for eating, such as being able to watch TV, make children more difficult to eat.

In their study, researchers from University of the Costa del Sol (USC), the University of South Australia and the University of Queensland have provided some of their best advice to parents of picky eaters, such as plan regular meal times, involve children in food preparation, and eliminate rewards, bribes or punishments.

They also emphasized the importance of turning off the TV and banning screens of all kinds on the dining room table, including smartphones.

“For parents with a picky eater, mealtime can be particularly stressful: juggling family food and a picky eater is no easy task, ”the senior researcher and doctoral student at the USC, Wool Chilman. And he continued, “Some families have children who don’t care about any vegetables. Others deal with children who dislike certain textures or colors of food. Some of these preferences are related to the characteristics or personality of a child, which are hard to change. Corn others are external factors that could help reduce irritability when feeding children ”.

“Eating as a family, with siblings and having only one meal at a time has helped reduce food anxiety., As bring the child difficult to engage in food, either help choose the menu or help prepare the food. However, if picky eaters were allowed to eat in front of the television, or if they were rewarded for eating certain foods, these behaviors negatively influenced picky children, ”said the expert.

The research authors identified several characteristics of the typical picky eater, including reduced food consumption, reduced preference for vegetables, rejection of novel foods, preference for a limited variety of foods, and rejection of foods based on texture. Typical behaviors of children identified as picky eaters included eat slower or longer, avoid meal times and “inspect food”.

Interestingly, the picky eater “was more often male, firstborn and underweight ”, the authors said, citing several different studies in their analysis. In addition to the individual personality of each child, the stress, often caused by parental actions such as screaming, it is another factor that may explain why children are picky eaters. Above all, parents must Avoid trying to force foods into your children’s mouths altogether, which can deter them from certain foods for life.

“When you have a difficult-to-eat child, it’s very stressful for a parent or guardian – they always wonder if their child is getting enough nutrients, enough food, and often enough weight gain,” said the co-author, the doctor Anne. Kennedy-Behr of University of South Australia. However, it is important to understand that Being openly anxious or worried can actually contribute to an increase in the number of picky eaters. “Avoiding getting angry and limiting any negativity around food will benefit everyone. The positive parenting, no matter how difficult it can be in certain situations, it is the best step forward for picky eaters ”, ended.

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