Navigation
Bidirectional relationship between nutrition and mental health and its impact on the health of Canadian immigrants: An integrative review
Immigration plays a central role in Canada’s population growth, a trend expected to persist. While immigrants often arrive in better health than those born in Canada, this advantage tends to fade over time, partly due to changes in diet linked to cultural adaptation. There is increasing evidence that a connection between food and mental health exists. This integrative review by Dubois & Giroux (2025) aimed to examine how this relationship affects the well-being of Canadian immigrants, especially concerning mental health and the “healthy immigrant effect.” Researchers conducted two extensive literature searches across major databases, including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering studies up to July 2024. Using Whittemore and Knafl’s integrative methodology and the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool, 42 and 34 articles were selected from each respective search. Analysis revealed four key themes: the connection between food insecurity and mental health, the link between obesity and mental health, the influence of diet quality on mental well-being, and the role of the gut microbiome. The context of Canadian immigrant populations was used to analyze these aspects. The findings suggest that immigrant health is shaped by a complex web of interrelated factors that impact both physical and mental health. Given the growing number of newcomers to Canada, continued research is essential to better understand the interaction between nutrition and mental health, and how this knowledge can be applied to support the long-term health of immigrants. [NPID: Immigration, mental health, nutrition, food insecurity, diet quality, obesity, gut microbiome, immigrant health]
Year: 2025
