Children, Depression, and Food.
A report in ‘JAMA Pediatrics’, April 8, 2019 revealed that the number of children seen in Emergency Rooms (Departments) for suicidal thoughts and suicidal attempts had more than doubled from 580,000 visits in 2007 to over 1.12 million visits in 2017. They stated there may be multiple reasons such as increased stress on the parents which is transferred (unconsciously) to their children, cypher-bullying, the impact of Social Media, and the increased demands on today’s children.
The impact of child (and adolescent) suicidal thoughts, suicidal attempts and, yes, childhood suicide has an overwhelming negative impact on families and communities. The report revealed the average age was 13; 43% of the children were between the ages of 5 and 11. This report reveals that our very young children have increasing bouts of severe depression and suicidal intent so severe that they are ending up in the Emergency Departments of hospitals. Our children and childhood should not be fraught with depression, suicidal ideation and/or suicide. Stress is certainly a huge factor; another factor is how we handle stress.
Here is the hidden and incredibly important factor that must be addressed; it’s the Food! The food we consume has an impact of how we feel, function, and find our way in life. For example in 2014 there was an article in the American Journal of Public Health that revealed there was a significant connection between an unhealthy diet and poor mental health in children. In a study of multiple articles reviewed they reported that there was significant evidence of the relationship between unhealthy foods and poor mental health in children. In the 2018 book, “Fast Food Genocide” by Joel Furman, M.D., he has reported the significant connection in children between unhealthy diets and poor mental health; especially in communities in the United States that lack healthy food supplies such as fresh fruits and vegetables. The connection of negative behaviors and unhealthy foods in these communities was equally impressive.
There is a wonderfully warm video on YouTube that shows a 3 year old child not wanting to eat the ‘octopus’ on his plate because it is an animal; the conversation continues with his mother until she begins to cry. He then asks her why she is crying and her answer is incredibly powerful…it’s well worth the time to view. One concept is that children are taught to eat animals which allows them to overcome any moral connection; thus teaching children to eat animals is a cultural dogma that will push the desire to love animals to the far depths of our subconscious and allow family (social/cultural) guidelines to override our love for living creatures.
The connection between food and emotions is well known; the food we consume determines the response of our neurotransmitters which determines our moods and behaviors. The consumption of animals and animal products contains Saturated Fats and a lack of fiber, both of which are impairments to normal functioning of our brains neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and others. Our Fast Food Children are missing the basic nutrients to sustain normal development. The consumption of animals and animal products is a significant impairment to normal day to day emotions and behaviors. Eat Healthy, Stay Healthy, Vegan Doc.
