Low-Quality Diet is Associated with Gut Health, Inflammation and Mental Health

Authors: Esha Patel, Zoe Gonzales, Annabella Ciccotto, Aidan Goodwin

Field of Study: Nursing

Program Affiliation: Health and Wellness Studies

Faculty Mentors: Lina Begdache

Easel: 6

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: Maintaining a balanced diet is vital for overall health. This study examines the effect of balanced diets on gut health, inflammation, and mental health outcomes. Data were collected via an anonymous Google Forms survey. The survey was distributed via multiple social media and messaging platforms. After collecting data from 200+ participants, results were interpreted in Google Sheets and analyzed with Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient in SPSS Version 28.0. Findings indicated poorer diet quality was positively correlated with increased inflammation (p<0.01) and negatively correlated with gut health indicators (p<0.05). Inadequate diet was also associated with poor mental health outcomes, including higher stress and poor mood (p<0.01). These findings show that as diet quality decreases, negative health outcomes increase. Overall, the findings demonstrate significant correlations among diet quality, gut health, inflammation, and mental health outcomes. These results highlight the importance of dietary habits in overall well-being.