Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan was a guest on Television Host İkbal Gürpınar's Instagram live broadcast. In his assessments regarding the importance of nutrition for our mental health, Tarhan drew attention to the importance of eating less, healthy sleep, and positive thinking.
"Spirit and personality express themselves through the brain"
Tarhan noted that the structures of spirit and personality are expressed through the brain; "Recent years' research has beautifully revealed the causal link between nutrition and spirit, mind, and body health. When we speak of mental health, brain health is implied. Because our spirit and personality structure express themselves through the brain. Just as a music producer needs an instrument, the human spirit also needs its brain to be healthy to express itself. In fact, the illnesses we call mental illnesses are linked to the brain. And our brain is also a silent organ. The brain works 24/7 and very silently," he stated.
"For healthy sleep, one should sleep in a place without light"
Continuing his speech, Tarhan made assessments regarding mental health and nutrition; "Sugar, glucose are essential nutrients for the brain. Vitamins, minerals, trace elements are also important. One of the recently discovered ones is Omega-3. The brain shrinks during sleep, blood vessels expand, a thin strip forms around the vessels, and fatigue substances are expelled from there. When the brain sleeps, it cleanses all accumulated substances. Therefore, we see sleep as a fundamental need for brain and mental health. People with sleep disorders and sleep apnea cannot get quality sleep at night and cannot enter deep sleep. Consequently, the brain works incompletely. Weakness and forgetfulness occur. For healthy sleep, we should sleep in a place without light. Daylight inhibits melatonin secretion," he said.
A positive mood is essential for happiness!
Tarhan, addressing the importance of positive thinking for human health; "For happiness, a person needs to be in a positive state of mind. We will see the negative, but we will live with a positive focus. Hasan Basri has a saying; 'If there are these three states – death, hunger, helplessness – a person is freed from arrogance.' Eating less, healthy sleep, positive thinking – these are important. Controllable stress is beneficial, uncontrollable stress is harmful," he said.