Consumption Of Nutrient Food Can Influence Mental Health

Illustration (Foodie Factor/Pexels)

JAKARTA - Nutrient expert from IPB University Dr. Rimbawan said that more nutritious food consumption can improve mental health, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the factors that play a role in improving mental health is food. As much as 60 percent eat more nutritious food can improve mental health," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

In addition, about 66 percent more and private space is important to maintain mental health and 59 percent implement new routines with breaks among daily activities can improve mental health. He added that the Asia Pacific Health Inertia 2021 survey states that 60 percent of consumers in Indonesia say their mental health conditions are less ideal and 63 percent of consumers in Indonesia say that their physical health is currently less than ideal.

There are several main reasons for the physical decline, namely 69 percent lack of physical activity, 42 percent eating unhealthy foods, and 31 percent potentially being exposed to viruses and bacteria. A number of factors that play a role in improving physical health are 79 percent eating healthier foods, 76 percent positive and family influences, and friends to improve physical health, and 63 percent taking health supplements.

"For foods that can improve mental health by consuming certain nutrients such as folate, magnesium, iron, zinc, and vitamins B6, B12 and also D," said the member of the Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB) or the Advisory Council of Indonesian Herbalife Nutrition.

For physical activities, it is categorized as sufficient if a person carries out physical activity for 30 minutes every day or a minimum of 3-5 days a week.

Therefore, people who carry out active physical activity for seven hours in one week have a 40 percent lower risk of premature death than those who carry out physical activity in less than 30 minutes a week. There is a lot of decrease in the risk of disease if a person performs at least 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise which is intensively every week," he said.

Senior Director & Country General Manager of the Indonesian Herbalife Nutrition Andam Dewi said the survey results were aimed at reviewing the impact of the pandemic on the mental and physical health of consumers in Asia Pacific over the past year, as well as their attitudes and behavior towards improving their welfare.

"So there is a need for high awareness of the important role of exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, as well as environmental and community support in achieving better health overall," he said.

The Asia Pacific Health Inertia Survey 2021 will be held in July and August 2021 in 11 Asian Pacific countries including Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. This survey was also attended by 5,496 Herbalife Nutrition consumers over the age of 18.