4.2
BRAIN FOOD
SPEAKING AND READING
1
Discuss these questions in small groups.
1
Describe your usual diet. What do you eat that’s
good / not good for you?
2
When you were younger, was your diet different?
2
a
Sort these words into two groups: A (food and
nutrition) and B (mental health and the mind).
carbohydrates depression poor concentration
junk food vitamins nuts motivation
rice brain memory salmon mood
mental illness sugar
2
b
The Scottish Health Authority (SHA) is planning a
public health campaign about food and the mind.
Read their report on this subject below and answer
these questions.
1
Why does the SHA think this campaign is necessary?
2
Complete the summary below of the article with the
words in the box.
concentration healthy illnesses mental research
Recent
1
has shown that a
2
diet is good for your
3
health, from minor
issues such as
4
levels to serious
5
(e.g. depression).
3
a
Read the report again. How many of each thing
(1–3) does the article mention?
1
types of food
2
mental health problems
3
research studies
3
b
Write a sub-heading for each paragraph in the
Research review
section of the report.
3
c
What do these words refer to in the report?
1
this food (line 9)
2
a serious mental health problem for the elderly
(lines 21–22)
3
that (is probably not …) (line 27)
4
the two (lines 40–41)
VOCABULARY
REPORTING VERBS
4
a
Match the verbs in column A with verbs with
similar meanings in column B.
A
B
say
feel
reveal
state
think
suggest
recommend
show
4
b
Find the examples of the above verbs in the
report. Which word comes after the verbs?
MIND
FEED
YOUR
5
10
15
20
25
INTRODUCTION
We have known about the link between what we eat and
our physical health for a long time. Recently, we have
learned more about the link between our diet and our mind.
RESEARCH REVIEW
The Mental Health Foundation produced a report called
Feeding Minds. The report states that the brain is a
physical part of our body that needs the correct food to
work properly, just like the heart. This food should contain
carbohydrates, vitamins and fish oil.
There is also research that shows how a good diet can
improve the behaviour of children and their concentration
(Tomlinson et al., 2009). Daniel Brown, the head teacher
of Barnet School, says that after his school stopped
selling junk food, there was an increase in the students’
concentration levels.
With regard to serious mental illnesses, Jacka (2010) and
Sanchez-Villegas (2009) say that eating fruit, vegetables and
fish helps to prevent depression, but eating a lot of sugar
makes depression more likely. Some research also reveals
that a healthy diet can prevent Alzheimer’s (a serious mental
health problem for the elderly) (McCulloch and Ryrie, 2006).
However, many medical professionals feel that the
research by Jacka and Sanchez-Villegas is early research,
and that we need to test their claims. Dr John Powell, a
psychologist, thinks that although many of his patients with
depression have a poor diet, that is probably not the reason
for their illness.
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