Role of nutrition in mental well-being

Abstract

Introduction: A healthy lifestyle plays a pivotal role in maintaining a healthy mind. Dietary balance acts as a major modifiable factor for overall health. Research has shown more risk for metabolic syndrome, cardiac illness, endocrinal disorders, respiratory infections in patients with mental illness (due to medications (an adaptation of an unhealthy lifestyle). Objective: To highlight the various dietary supplements role in patients suffering from various psychiatric illnesses. Methods: Various search engines were explored like PubMed, PsycInfo, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, Scopus, and GoogleScholar and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Result: Various dietary supplements play the role as an augmentation therapy or as the main treatment in milder/initial cases depending upon the state of the psychiatric illness. Conclusion: We should also emphasize on the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle (regular exercise, diet, sleep) along with the regularity of the treatment. Treating doctor should also attempt to include these dietary supplements in patient’s treatment to increase the efficacy of the medication and in turn, decrease the side effects due to the medications.