Mental health is a hot-button topic these days and deserves as much attention as it’s been getting. It can’t go understated how important your mental health is to the way you function in your day-to-day life. Without a clear head and regulated emotions, many people struggle to function in certain work environments, find and maintain meaningful relationships, and feel capable of handling whatever life might throw their way.
With techniques and treatments such as psychotherapy and medication, we have made huge strides in managing mental health and allowing others to share their experiences. However, there is also a lot to be said about how your daily diet affects the way your brain functions, whether you notice it or not. If you’ve been feeling off lately and aren’t quite sure why below are a few ways how your diet might be having an impact on your mental health and how to support it with the foods you add to your grocery list.
Why You Might Be Feeling Off When Not Eating Right
The food you eat is ultimately the fuel your brain runs on. It isn’t surprising that a malnourished body would be affecting your mental health. Seeing as the brain is always functioning, even when you’re asleep. Then it’s important to understand the effects of the food you feed it. It has an impact on the way it processes information and allows you to function throughout the day.
There are a variety of nutrients that have an enormous impact on the way your neurons communicate with one another, producing the mood-altering effects you experience on good and bad days. Serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for helping you sleep and mediate moods, is primarily produced in the gut. Therefore, the food you eat determines how much serotonin your body can produce. Serotonin helps protect the gut from bad bacteria and inflammation in order for you to absorb enough nutrients through your intestinal tract. Without enough serotonin production, you might begin to feel anxious, depressed, irritable, aggressive, have trouble sleeping, etc.
It’s no surprise that a diet comprised of foods in high saturated fats and processed sugars without any of the essential nutrients won’t leave you feeling great.
Disclaimer: At all times, if you feel low, anxious or in need of help, we strongly suggest you speak with a health professional. Food can do great things but is never a treatment for anything.
The Best Foods to Help Improve Your Mood and Overall Well-Being
When it comes to mental health, there are a variety of reasons why you might be struggling. The food you eat isn’t the be-all and end-all, but it does play an important factor. Along with the appropriate treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and medication, a diet packed with all the right nutrients and minerals can positively affect your mood and overall wellbeing. The overall consensus seems to be opting for a Mediterranean diet to improve mood. Here are a few of the best foods that you can choose to incorporate into your meals:
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Whole grains.
- Eggs.
There are a variety of factors that play a role in maintaining mental health. Your daily diet is an important one. It’s necessary to make sure you’re getting in the right vitamins and minerals. They support healthy immune function and well-being so that you can take on whatever the day throws at you. If you’re looking for an easy way to add some nutrients to your meals, try one of our DOSE juice challenges today!
Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327335#diet-and-mental-health
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327335#diet-and-mental-health