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Mariella Aletti
Ferrara
English 1001
14 December 2023

The Interconnection Between Physical and Mental Health: Exploring Important

Factors

The correlation between physical and mental health is profound. Enhancing physical

well-being usually leads to an improvement in mental health. Physical well-being can encompass

one’s nutrition and the food a person consumes or simply the physical ability of that person to

move around and accomplish everyday and necessary actions. There is a strong link between

physical and mental health, improving one's physical health will improve mental health as well

because it allows for better mood regulation, balances the gut-brain axis, and improves cognitive

function. However, other factors outside of one's choice, such as environmental factors can have

just as much effect on mental health.

Improving physical health and embracing an active lifestyle substantially impacts mood

regulation. Engaging in exercise acts as a stress reliever and contributes significantly to

emotional well-being. The act of exercising itself has been proven in numerous studies to

improve anxiety and depression, this is a well-known fact by the majority of people. A Journal

Entry in the NLM(National Library of Medicine) includes that exercise improves cognitive

function and alleviates mental illness symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal

(Sharma, “Exercise for mental health”). Also, a survey in Australia highlighted that “The

statistics around men's health in Canada are alarming; 70% of men's health problems can be

prevented by adopting healthy lifestyles (Marketwired, “Men Surveyed Believe Physical

Activity Has a Positive Effect on Their Mental Health”).”This shows that consistent physical

activity can not only improve the average person's mental health but can also improve the quality

of life of a person with mental illness. All of these factors that exercise is said to improve are

anxiety, depression, cognitive function, low self-esteem, and social withdrawal. The

improvement in all of these factors play a role in mood regulation. Where people who are able to

think clearly and rationally make better decisions and people who feel better mentally and

physically are more pleasant members of society.

Adjusting dietary patterns to support a balanced gut-brain axis is pivotal for overall

health. It is public knowledge that a healthy diet betters overall health and quality of life, but in

society, we mainly focus on how food affects our physical appearance, specifically weight rather

than health as a whole. An article titled "Diet and Its Influence on Mental Health: Nurturing Our

Gut for a Better Mind" outlines the positive impact of dietary changes on mental health. This

source emphasizes how certain diets, specifically the Mediterranean diet with its

anti-inflammatory properties are good for the microbiota and have been seen to improve certain

aspects of mental health in previous studies conducted (Berding). This source also states, “This

likely relates to the positive benefit of dietary improvement for overall health and functioning,

including the chronic conditions that are so commonly comorbid with mental disorders

(Berding).” This suggests that diet plays a key role in not just physical health but mental health

as well in a way that should be further studied. In summary, adopting a Mediterranean diet by

increasing plant-based foods, reducing highly processed options, and incorporating more grains,

fibers, fermented foods, and fish can significantly benefit mental health. This underscores the

idea that nourishing our minds with nutrient-rich foods should become more integral to our daily

lives. If dietary changes could potentially reduce the mortality rates associated with mental
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disorders, this area deserves deeper exploration. Nevertheless, my own study suggests that while

mental health is a concern for many people (see images below for results), it might not currently

be seen as the most critical issue. This might imply that it's not receiving enough attention for

extensive research. However, this shouldn't undermine the significance of studying and

understanding the link between diet and mental health for the future.

Consuming a nutrient-rich diet significantly influences cognitive abilities. Essential

nutrients found abundantly in fruits and vegetables are crucial for both physical and mental

health. A study of 11 European adults emphasizes the positive correlation between a healthy diet

and improved cognitive functions. Prioritizing plant-based foods over processed options notably

influences mental well-being. The results this study produced are, that “... consumption of fruit

and vegetables is correlated with an improved overall health of older European adults, including

self-rated health, grip strength, IADL, ADL, mobility, depression, quality of life, short-term

memory and long-term memory. These findings replicate previous studies (Gehlich,

“Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables”).” Additionally, this source also suggests that nutrition

focused primarily on the prevention of chronic diseases might be a more effective way to treat

those sans medications (Gehlich). This source truly demonstrates how powerful nutrition is in

regard to health. With results like these which are stated to be found in multiple studies, this

should have been something implemented long ago. Such a simple solution that well within the
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control of an individual, you would think that everyone would change their diets to primarily

plant-based and little to none of the ultra processed foods that seem to be so popular today. Not

only do dietary habits affect mental well-being but they can also play a key role in the causation

of prevention of chronic diseases.

While mental health is greatly affected by physical health there are other factors that

affect a person's overall health that are less controllable, such as environmental factors. Looking

at research conducted by ​Mark Salzer which was used in an article written by Logan Beck titled

"Impact of Local Environments on Mental Health" communicates that communities lacking

social engagement may foster feelings of isolation, adversely affecting mental health (Beck).

This proves that where a person lives and the communities they are involved in plays a role in

their mental health. Therefore, the common expression or piece of advice to surround yourself

with people and things that make you happy is true and effective in preventing and combating

mental illness. Furthermore, environmental conditions, such as extended periods of darkness

during winters, can trigger common mental health issues like Seasonal Affective Disorder

(Beck). This is clear evidence that weather and environmental conditions influence mental health

so it is very likely that communities and social conditions also have a similar effect. The question

however is which factors: physical health or environmental health have a greater effect on mental

health. This is something we do not know yet and that will require much more research.

However, it is important that individuals take action in what they can to improve their mental

health.

Our physical health is tightly linked to our mental well-being. Beyond personal choices,

where we live and our environment greatly influences how we feel. Recognizing these links
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highlights the importance of a holistic approach to healthcare. This means not only focusing on

individual decisions but also considering our communities and surroundings. However, as we as

individuals are only in control of our own choices, we just have to do the best we can in regard to

physical health and nutrition. Acknowledging these connections is crucial to ensure both our

physical and mental health are taken care of properly.

Works cited:

“81% of Canadian Men Surveyed Believe Physical Activity Has a Positive Effect on Their

Mental Health.” Marketwired, 2023.

Berding, Kirsten, et al. “Diet and the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Sowing the Seeds of Good

Mental Health.” Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), vol. 12, no. 4, 2021, pp.

1239–85, https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmaa181.

Gehlich, Kerstin H., et al. “Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables: Improved Physical Health,

Mental Health, Physical Functioning and Cognitive Health in Older Adults from 11

European Countries.” Aging & Mental Health, vol. 24, no. 4, 2020, pp. 634–41,

https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1571011.

Sharma, Ashish et al. “Exercise for mental health.” Primary care companion to the Journal of

clinical psychiatry vol. 8,2 (2006): 106. doi:10.4088/pcc.v08n0208a

Beck, Logan. "Researcher studies effects of local environments on mental health

disorders." UWIRE Text, 10 Feb. 2014, p. 1. Gale Academic OneFile,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/A358231939/AONE?u=a04fu&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=985e0ba7.