Calorie restriction diet could see 'radical shift' in mental health, new study shows

Calorie restriction, a common diet that can be personalised with the main goal of lowering the amount of calories, not necessarily the amount of food, that a person consumes could have benefits that go beyond losing weight. In fact, women who struggle with mental health issues too could see a radical shift with the researchers explained that the benefits of calorie restriction on mental health may be due to its anti-inflammatory properties and how it regulates hormone production.

A new study has revealed a potential non-pharmaceutical treatment for women struggling with mental and metabolic disorders through the use of calorie-restrictive diets. The research, published in the journal Nutrients, took a look at how combining calorie restrictions with clinical psychological intervention can shift the gut microbiome and ultimately impact stress-related mental health outcomes in women.

Individually, diets and clinical intervention have been known to have an effect on mental health but the study noted more research is needed on their potential as a combined, optimized approach. The study took 41 women through two weeks of inpatient treatment using this synergistic approach.

The women were put on either very low-calorie diet, ranging from 630 to 700 kcal across three meals per day with others on the Mayr Method diet consisting of 700 to 800 kcal across two meals a day along with mindful practices like prolonged chewing. Their clinical interventions also included a slight range with the likes of muscle relaxation psycho-education and biofeedback.

An average woman is estimated to need an average of 2,000kcals per day according to the British Heart Foundation to maintain average weight. More common calorie restriction diets take