THE HEALTH DEBR I EF
&FAD-FREEinsight&DEBUNKEDfood&healthnews&HEALTHFUL ways to eat better &
THE EXPERT’S VIEW
COMPILED BY SUE QUINN
A
n article published in The British Journal of Psychiatry in 2002
should have shaken the UK criminal justice system. A randomised
trial found that providing prisoners with nutritional supplements
(omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals) resulted in them committing
37 per cent fewer violent offences, and 26 per cent fewer offences overall.
Those remarkable results have since been replicated. Twice.
This research is important. According to a Ministry of Justice report,
assaults on prison staff rose to an all-time high in 2018, increasing by
29 per cent; self-harm went up by 23 per cent and there were 10 per cent
more deaths in custody, compared to the previous 12 months.
Why should nutrition have such an effect? Because the brain requires
optimal nutrition for proper function. For example, omega-3 fats (found in
oily fish) make up the outer wall of brain cells and help them communicate
with each other. If this is impaired, memory may be affected, and it
becomes difficult to control impulsivity or make good decisions. In 2017,
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA found
the carb-to-protein ratio of a meal directly affected brain chemistry and
influenced social decision-making.
Prisoner violence, self-harm and suicide are of major concern, as are
the general safety and security of prisons. We have good-quality scientific
evidence that a readily available, cheap and low-risk food supplement
couldhelp.Perhapsit’stimetoturnthoseresultsintoaction.BY KIMBERLEY WILSON
Dried red lentils are easy to cook
and packed with protein, iron, fibre
and B vitamins. Use them to add
substance to stews and curries,
and as a base for delicious spiced
dhals and thick, comforting soups.SHOPPING
TROLLEYDIETRIBES
The cider vinegar diet
Wellness websites claim a
spoonful or two of cider
vinegar can cause fat to melt
away. The truth? Animal
studies have found acetic acid- the active compound in
vinegar – might promote fat
loss, but research in humans
is lacking. “In all, the scientific
evidence isn’t compelling,”
according to Harvard Medical
School. If you must, limit
intake and drink vinegar
diluted or in salad dressings,
asit canerodetoothenamel
KIMBERLEY WILSON IS A CHARTERED PSYCHOLOGIST AND LECTURER WITH AN INTEREST IN THE
ROLE THAT FOOD AND LIFESTYLE PLAY IN MENTAL HEALTH. HER BOOK, HOW TO BUILD A HEALTHY
BRAIN (YELLOW KITE £16.99), IS OUT IN MARCH
The brain needs
good nutrition to
function properly