A study published yesterday in Nutritional Neuroscience found that diet and exercise impacted mental health differently depending on age, with young adults benefitting from more frequent consumption of meat and mature adults benefitting from fruit and avoiding coffee.
Researchers from Binghamton University, State University of New York conducted a study that assessed dietary intake, dietary practices, and exercise in young adults (YA; 18-29) versus mature adults (MA; 30 years and older). They found that YA mood was dependent on food that increased availability of neurotransmitter precursors and concentrations in the brain (meat), and MA mood was impacted by food that increased availability of antioxidants (fruit) and abstinence of food that activated the sympathetic nervous system (coffee and skipping breakfast, for example).
"One of the major findings of this paper is that diet and dietary practices differentially affect mental health in young adults versus mature adults," said Lina Begdache, assistant professor of health and wellness studies. "Another noteworthy finding is that young adult mood appears to be sensitive to build-up of brain chemicals. Regular consumption of meat leads to build-up of two brain chemicals (serotonin and dopamine) known to promote mood. Regular exercise leads to build-up of these and other neurotransmitters as well. In other words, young adults who ate meat (red or white) less than three times a week and exercised less than three times week showed a significant mental distress."
"Conversely, mature adult mood seems to be more sensitive to regular consumption of sources of antioxidants and abstinence of food that inappropriately activates the innate fight-or-flight response (commonly known as the stress response)," added Begdache. "With aging, there is an increase in free radical formation (oxidants), so our need for antioxidants increases. Free radicals cause disturbances in the brain, which increases the risk for mental distress. Also, our ability to regulate stress decreases, so if we consume food that activates the stress response (such as coffee and too much carbohydrates), we are more likely to experience mental distress."
As a result of their findings, the authors believe that level of brain maturation and age-related changes in brain morphology and functions may necessitate dietary adjustments for improving mental well-being.