A new research from Binghamton University, State University at New York says that women may need a more nutrient-rich diet to support a positive emotional well-being than men.
Previous studies shows that women and men have anatomical and functional differences in the brain. And women are more sensitive and more likely to get mental distress than men. But few researches indicate the importance of diet for mental well-being.
The new research has analyzed the data of 563 participants that included 52 percent women and 48 percent men, and finds that men are more likely to experience mental well-being until nutritional deficiencies arise. However, women are less likely to experience mental well-being until they follow a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
“The biggest takeaway is that women may need a larger spectrum of nutrients to support mood, compared to men,” said Lina Begdache, assistant professor of health and wellness studies at Binghamton University. “These findings may explain the reason why women are twice more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and depression and suffer from longer episodes, compared to men. Today’s diet is high in energy but poor in key nutrients that support brain anatomy and functionality.”
She continued:” Males and females had different physical and emotional responsibilities that may have necessitated different energy requirements and food preference. Thus, gender-based differential food and energy intake may explain the differential brain volumes and connectivity between females and males. Therefore, a potential mismatch is happening between our contemporary diet and the evolved human brain which is disturbing the normal functionality of certain systems in the brain.”
