A study conducted by the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research indicates that there may be a correlation between children’s and teen’s mental health and levels of vitamin B in their diet.
The research, which was funded by the Cardiovascular Disease and Depression Strategic Research Program, looked at detailed data collected on subjects who participated in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort, Raine Study.
According to one of the researchers, Carly Herbison, B vitamins help produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which play a positive role in a person’s mood. This study was the first of its kind to show a direct link between a lack of vitamin B1, B2, B5, B6 and folate, and the behavioral issues of 17-year-olds. This is valuable because, as Herbison reported, certain externalized behavioral issues are linked to criminal offenses and substance abuse, which underscores the necessity for a healthy diet in children.
“There is a great message in this in how diet may help prevent mental health problems. Improving what our children eat and ensuring they are getting essential B-vitamins from foods such as nuts, seeds, whole-grains, legumes and fruit and vegetables can have a really positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing,” one of the research authors Wendy Oddy said.
Besides boosting mood, B vitamins also help your body perform natural processes so you can convert food into energy, the National Institutes of Health reports. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin B12 helps sustain your nerve and blood cells and is helpful for making DNA. You can find B vitamins in leafy greens, vegetables and legumes as well as fortified cereals and nutritional yeasts. For additional vitamin B, take a vital B-100 from Dr. Newton’s Naturals.