About This Project

The field of nutritional neuroscience has made strides in understanding the role of diet on brain function and health. This is a randomized controlled study as participants are randomly assigned to interventional groups. Diet intervention participants are put on a Mediterranean diet for 4 weeks while assessing their mood and anthropometric measurements. The goal of this research is to test the hypothesis that diet could have a direct effect on mental wellbeing.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

The integration of neuroscience and nutrition disciplines is an emerging field. The brain requires a repertoire of nutrients to support its function and morphology. Observational studies on the Mediterranean diet has shown that followers of the diet exhibit better mental health and cognitive functions. Since college students are known to have high levels of stress, mental health among college students has become a major health concern. Our preliminary data is very promising. The traditional Western diet is high in simple carbohydrates and saturated fats, that have been associated with depressed mood.

What is the significance of this project?

Mental health has become a major issue in our society. This research will evaluate the possible positive effects the diet can have on mood and anxiety. This research also has the opportunity to educate participants to be healthier and well rounded on the Mediterranean diet and its lifestyle. The educational component to this research is vital since all participants are personally monitored and counseled by a research assistant. Participants in this research walk away with better education about nutrients and how what their diet may affect their physical and mental health in general. We hope to disseminate the research findings through poster presentations at scientific meetings and through publications in peer-reviewed journals.

What are the goals of the project?

We hypothesize that a healthy diet, like the Mediterranean diet, can have a positive, improved impact on mood and anxiety in college students. Currently, recommendations for diet and health are “one size fits all”. Individuals may need customized adjustment in their diet to improve mental health without resorting to medications. Through the use of surveys and monitored diet participant mood patterns will be able to be tracked by our team of researchers. The short term goals of this research is to build a foundation for the relationship between what we eat and the mental effects this can have on college aged students.