Is what we feed our children effecting their mental health?

It's no secret that stress breeds anxiety and depression, but a new study suggests that our gut health may play an even bigger factor than we thought—after all, our guts are surrounded by a network of nerves. This research suggests that its not just the brain's central vagus nerve that controls gut health. Gut bacteria communicate with the immune system, which then communicates with the central nervous system.

With the booming trend in eating processed or convenience food, it seems that a lot of children are being introduced to certain gut health issues at an earlier age than ever. Some of these issues include constipation, and bloating. Processed food is more convenient, but researchers are increasingly concerned that they not only lack nutrients, but may also have a negative impact on our health.

According to recent statistics, nearly 70% of children’s diets come from processed or packaged foods. Processed foods such as cereals, soups and pasta dishes typically contain artificial chemicals such as dyes, preservatives and flavourings. These chemicals have been linked to allergies, hyperactivity and increased prevalence of certain developmental disorders. On the other hand, kids who eat fresh foods tend to be more focused in class and less prone to disruptive behaviour than their peers.

There are some simple ways to improve your child's gut health from, avoiding processed foods, starting a probiotic, avoiding ingredients that stress the gut such as foods containing dyes, fried foods and sugary drinks and eating more foods high in prebiotic fibres.