Navigation
Effects of Mediterranean and Western dietary patterns on perceived stress and mental distress
While the Mediterranean diet is widely known to benefit both physical and mental health, there is limited understanding of its impact on perceived stress and mental distress. Chowdhury et al. (2024) investigated the connection between mental health, perceived stress, and eating habits. The survey comprised demographic questions, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K–6), the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Food-Mood Questionnaire. An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to adults aged 18 and older through various social media platforms and email lists. The survey was completed by 1,591 individuals in total. The findings showed that a number of Mediterranean diet staples, such as whole grains, seafood, fruits, vegetables, and beans, significantly reduced mental anguish and perceived stress. Interestingly, meat also shown a negative association with mental anguish and perceived stress, even though it was associated with the Western diet. However, the authors discovered strong positive associations between Western diet elements, including fast food and items with a high glycemic index, and mental anguish and emotional stress. These findings suggest that dietary patterns influence the stress response, and incorporating elements of the Mediterranean diet may be beneficial for reducing stress and promoting mental well-being. [NPID: Mediterranean diet, Western diet, perceived stress, mental distress, mental wellbeing, dietary patterns, food-mood questionnaire, psychological distress, whole grains, seafood]
Year: 2024
