healthy eating

(image: Jacopo Maia: Unsplash)

When it comes to mental health, many people tend to focus on the usual suspects: stress, anxiety, depression, and medications. However, did you know that your food choices also play a significant role in your mental well-being? Over the years, studies have revealed the powerful connection between what we eat and how we feel emotionally. It’s not just about getting the right nutrients for physical health, but also for mental health. This blog post will explore some of the clear examples of how eating affects your mental health.

Mood Swings

What we eat affects the chemistry of our brain, which can lead to mood swings. Consuming foods high in sugar and simple carbohydrates, such as cakes and candy bars, may give you a quick energy boost, but it can also cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, leading to irritability, anxiety, and depression. Eating a balanced diet with protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats will help stabilise your mood and keep your energy levels consistent; buying from health food stores with less processed foods and organic produce like Southtown Health Foods can help with this goal.

Stress and Anxiety

Eating nutrient-dense foods can play a big role in reducing stress and anxiety. Foods like salmon, walnuts, and chia seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked to lower levels of stress hormones. Other foods, such as leafy greens, are rich in magnesium, which can help decrease anxiety. On the other hand, consuming caffeine and sugar can increase feelings of anxiety.

Brain Fog

The foods we eat can also impact our cognitive function. Processed foods and fast food meals that are high in trans fats and sugar can cause inflammation, which affects the brain’s ability to think clearly and process information. It’s important to fuel your brain with nutrient-dense foods, such as whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats like avocado and nuts.

Depression and Mental Health Disorders

Studies have shown that people who consume a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein have a lower risk of depression and other mental health disorders. These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals that are crucial for proper brain function and emotional well-being. On the other hand, a diet high in processed and fast food can increase the risk of depression and other mental health issues.

Gut Health

The gut-brain connection is a well-known phenomenon, and the gut microbiome plays a vital role in our mental health. Consuming a diet high in fibre, fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi, and prebiotics like garlic and onions can help foster a healthy gut microbiome and improve mental health. On the other hand, consuming a diet high in sugar and processed foods can lead to an imbalance in gut bacteria and inflammation that can negatively impact mental health.

In conclusion, what you put into your body matters for both your physical and mental health. Meal planning and making mindful food choices can go a long way in nourishing your brain and keeping your mood stabilised.

It’s important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all diet that will work for everyone, but incorporating more whole foods into your diet is a good start. Take control of your mental health by paying attention to your diet and making changes as necessary. Your body and mind will thank you for it!

Please note that a healthy diet without any other support is not a ‘cure’- make sure to reach out to professionals if you are in crisis.

This article was written by Anita Ginsburg.

(image: Emma Sturgis)

Starting to live a body-positive life all begins with you, the individual. It can be challenging with so much pressure from society trying to dictate our lives. It becomes easier when you block out all negative forces and decide to start loving yourself and your body no matter what others have to say.

Loving yourself no matter what will increase your happiness and your overall peace in life. Here are four tips to help you down the body-positive life and feel total peace of mind about your body and physical appearance.

Work on Self-love

A significant number of girls have been through the trauma associated with body shaming, especially in high school. Some have taken the weight of the shame to our adult life where we lose our confidence and tend not to love ourselves as we should.

Many women and girls suffer from poor body image for years, or even through their entire life. The first step into living a body-positive life is by loving yourself first. We all come in different shapes and sizes, and no one is perfect. You just have to own your flaws and flaunt your strengths.

This can often be easier said than done, especially with years of social conditioning. You can achieve self-love through daily practices that make you feel your best physically and emotionally. Tell yourself every day that you appreciate your body and all it does for you.

Eat Instinctively and Respectfully

You don’t have to starve yourself to fit into that wedding dress within an unrealistic time-frame. Diets don’t work and neither does overfeeding any time you are stressed, sad or angry. Stop for a moment and ask yourself what your body desires to look great.

If you feel that you are struggling to keep an eating routine and your mental health is worsening, accept the problem and seek inpatient eating disorder treatment. under a psychiatry team or your local doctor.

Change Your Perspective on Exercising

Most of us quit taking exercise and going to the gym because we hate working out. Exercise can be fun when we redirect the focus from it being a weight loss challenge to treating your body correctly and healthily.

You don’t have to attach any pressure or targets to your daily workout routines. Do exercises that are fun to you and even make it a social event with your friends. Once you start viewing exercise as healthy for your body , you will begin to love it. You will enjoy exercising because of how it makes you feel, endorphins from it will make us feel happy. You may even feel proud after a work out!

Pamper Your Body

After all the stress and pressure that your body endures, it deserves to be pampered and treated right. Get some good fitting outfits, wear the best lotions, go for therapeutic massages and take frequent hot tub baths. Fall in love with every curve while you look straight into the mirror.

This will allow you to connect with your body instead of feeling detached and negative toward it. You can make these things part of each day. Carve out some time from your busy schedule to pamper yourself, even if it includes simply putting on your favorite perfume. It will give you a simple confidence boost to carry through your day. Always take time for yourself and don’t let your daily tasks take priority over caring for your physical and mental health.

Once you change your mindset, the journey to living a body-positive life will be so much easier. You don’t have to lose 20 pounds to start loving yourself and your body. You are much more than your physical body.

Knowing your worth is a gift to yourself and your body. Eventually, it helps you rediscover your true self. You will be able to go forward in the world with confidence and give your amazing gifts and what you have to offer, to the universe.

This blog was written by freelance writer Emma Sturgis from the USA