How Poor Nutrition Influences Our Brain Health and Online Behaviour

Summary

Research by Julia J Rucklidge and Bonnie J Kaplan suggests that poor nutrition, particularly a diet low in micronutrients, can negatively affect brain health, leading to irritability, anxiety, depression, and potentially influencing negative online behavior such as internet trolling.

Abstract

The article discusses the detrimental effects of poor nutrition on brain health and its potential to influence online behavior, including trolling. It references the work of scientists Julia J Rucklidge and Bonnie J Kaplan, who have extensively researched the impact of diet on mental health. Their findings, published in "The Better Brain," highlight that the North American diet, while rich in macronutrients, lacks essential micronutrients such as minerals and vitamins. This deficiency is linked to increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, which studies indicate can lead to irritability, anxiety, and depression. Long-term implications are severe, with evidence from Japan suggesting a connection between junk food consumption and suicide rates. Conversely, improvements in diet, such as switching to whole foods, have been associated with remission in depression, suggesting that proper nutrition could positively alter online behavior, including reducing trolling activity.

Opinions

Internet trolls may exhibit their behavior due to a combination of character flaws and poor nutrition affecting their brain health.
The North American diet, as pointed out by Bonnie J Kaplan, is sufficient in macronutrients but lacking in micronutrients, which are crucial for mental well-being.
Junk food consumption is believed to contribute to negative emotional states such as irritability, anxiety, and depression.
There is a suggestion

How Poor Nutrition Influences Our Brain Health and Online Behaviour

Internet trolls are despicable, aren’t they?

Apart from a character flaw, poor nutrition could explain why trolls behave offensively.

Scientists Julia J Rucklidge and Bonnie J Kaplan have been doing a lot of research on the impact of poor nutrition on our brain health. They published their findings in their book “The Better Brain.”

Bonnie J Kaplan says the North American diet is rich in macronutrients but poor in micronutrients (minerals and vitamins).

The intake of ultra-processed food has been increasing across the world. Studies have shown junk food makes us irritable, anxious, and depressed. Longitudinal studies in Japan have linked junk food to suicides. People who switched over to whole foods saw a remission in depression.

At least, some trolls could change their behaviour if they took care of their nutrition.