Exploring the role of diet in modulating stress and emotional health: a review on mental nutrition and cognitive resilience

Mar 11, 2026Journal of the science of food and agriculture

How diet may influence stress, emotions, and mental resilience

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Abstract

Plant-based dietary patterns may lower the risk of depression, anxiety, and cognitive deficits.

Plant-based nutrition is associated with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects that support mental wellbeing.
Essential nutrients and bioactive compounds may alleviate neuroinflammatory stress through their action on the gut-brain axis.
Functional foods like Ashwagandha and Rhodiola could help regulate cortisol levels and improve stress adaptation.
Diets such as the Mediterranean and DASH may enhance gut microbiome diversity and balance neurotransmitter levels.

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The rise in mental-health-related disorders, including anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment worldwide, has increased the demand for preventative non-pharmacological interventions and intervention aimed at modifiable lifestyle factors - particularly diet. Growing evidence shows that plant-based nutrition, with its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, is critically important for cognitive resilience, emotional stability, and mental wellbeing. Essential nutrient and bioactive compounds such as ω-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, B vitamins, magnesium, and probiotics themselves act on the gut-brain axis to alleviate neuroinflammatory stress. Functional and adaptogenic foods - for example, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, and Holy Basil - are becoming the focus of interest as they play a significant role in cortisol control and stress adaptation. All plant-based dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean, DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), and plant-based diets, show comparable associations with lower risk for depression, anxiety, and cognitive deficits through enhancing gut microbiome richness and balancing neurotransmitters. This review outlines the scientific basis of mental nutrition, highlighting the interconnections between dietary patterns, gut microbiota composition, diet-mediated modulation of neurotransmitter levels, and neuroinflammatory pathways that collectively influence mental health. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

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Exploring the role of diet in modulating stress and emotional health: a review on mental nutrition and cognitive resilience

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