The Impact of Nutrition on Student Mental Health and Academic Performance
The Importance of Nutrition for Human Life
Nutrition involves the ingestion, digestion, absorption, and metabolism of essential substances found in food. A balanced diet, rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates, supports physical health. Nutrition is very important in all aspects of human life. Without food, there is no life; it is more important than anything in this world. Without it, students cannot go to school. I describe it as the fuel of the human body, just as petrol is the fuel for motor vehicles. Without petrol, a motor vehicle cannot move; in the same way, without food, a person cannot function. There is a saying: “An hungry man is an angry man.”when there is no food people can just be violent with no reason which my have affect their mental health
Breaking the cycle of Poor Performance
Nutrition plays a vital and crucial role in students’ mental and academic performance.* Lack of proper nutrition may be the reason why some students are not performing well academically, despite their efforts in studying and attending classes, which are key factors in academic success. Despite these efforts, some students still produce low academic results, and the problem is often that they are not eating well or not consuming the right nutrients.
If I were to ask an average student what they have been eating, you would likely find that they have been consuming junk food and all sorts of unhealthy options. Proper nutrition plays a critical role in fostering creativity in students, much more so than when they are not eating well. One of the key reasons many students struggle with innovation is the lack of proper food. In countries like Nigeria, food is often expensive, and students may prioritize finding something to eat over thinking about innovation or conducting proper research.
The government can play a crucial role in addressing food issues if we want to see development in the nation. They should find ways to subsidize the price of food and create food banks so that it is available to everyone, especially students. This would help students focus better on their education and explore their full potential. Food should even be made free for students at the primary and secondary levels, and at the tertiary level, it should be subsidized.
When the issue of food is addressed, students will be able to focus on their education without the worry of hunger. They will not have to eat whatever they find or come across. A balanced diet is often expensive, so students end up eating whatever is available, which can affect their health and performance.
The Importance of proper nutrition on Student mental Health
When students take in proper nutrition and maintain a balanced diet, it helps the brain function optimally, contributing to better mental clarity, improved mood regulation, and enhanced problem-solving skills—all of which are crucial for academic success. Proper nutrition enables students to stay focused on their studies, leading to better academic performance. This, in turn, positively impacts their mental well-being, as academic success often leads to increased happiness and self-confidence. By looking at the relationship between nutrition and mental health, we can see that a well-balanced diet has a significant, positive effect on students’ mental health, ultimately supporting both their academic and emotional growth.