National Mental Health Week is annually celebrated every second week of October based on Proclamation No. 452, dated August 25, 1994. National Mental health program aims to promote over-all wellness of all Filipinos, prevent mental, psychosocial, and neurological disorders, and others and reduce burden of disease by providing improved access to mental health services. To prevent brain diseases and promote brain health, people must also take consider on the food they eat.

Food is not just important for physical health but also very essential for the brain. It keeps the brain healthy and improves brain function such as memory and concentration. Having a well-balanced and nutritious diet has many benefits especially on promoting healthy brain aging and prevent brain-related diseases such as dementias, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and memory loss.

Brain development and function of a child is affected and influenced by the mother’s diet. All energy and nutrient that can be absorbed from the food the mother eats is significant during the development of brain structure during prenatal and perinatal stage. Malnutrition during pregnancy and early childhood would result to child’s poor brain and cognitive development, as highlighted in the importance of the First 1000 Days of Life.

Furthermore, there are also nutrients that can affect brain development. Vitamin Bs such as folate, B12, and B6 are involved in brain development. Deficiency of these may result to some brain and mental disorders. Iron and Zinc are also essential micronutrients that play important roles in neurodevelopment. Severe deficiency of zinc and iron may cause malformations in the brain structures. Iodine is one of the important nutrients in the brain development of a newborn child. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy may impair cognitive and neurological function of a newborn child.

There are many studies that shows association with food and brain health. Diet that is well-balanced, nutritious, and sufficient is very significant for both physical and mental health. By giving priority to the food they choose, people can protect their mental health and prevent neurocognitive disorders. #Frances Vea Valdez

Sources:

https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/79/6/693/5912697

https://familydoctor.org/nutrition-mental-health/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626

https://doh.gov.ph/national-mental-health-program#:~:text=To%20promote%20over%2Dall%20wellness,to%20participate%20fully%20in%20society.