Our diet has an impact on our mental health. You are probably familiar with the saying “You are what you eat”. As for how you feel after eating, there might be some truth in that. What we consume through our meals affects both our physical and mental well-being, as our body uses what we consume to break down and rebuild our physiology, which, no doubt, includes the brain.
Everyone knows the feeling of food or the short-term positive effects of eating food. We feel good psychologically and physically when we eat something that tastes good to us or associates with something pleasant.
Conversely, when we consume something that causes illness, or even something that just doesn’t taste good or that we associate with a negative experience, we experience a short-term decrease in our well-being.
How Diet Affects Mental Health
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<p>Sugar and processed meals can cause inflammation in the body and brain, possibly contributing to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. We frequently turn to processed meals when we need quick relief from stress or depression. When you’re down, an ice cream cone serves as your meal (or you skip dinner altogether).</p>
<p>Research says that when you’re sad or stressed, you tend to eat too much or too little. If you eat too much, you will feel tired and gain weight. It is difficult to get rid of this habit of eating too little because of the weariness it causes. Either way, eating poorly while stressed or depressed only makes things worse. Although this cycle is destructive, it can be broken.</p>
<p>Focus on eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as meals rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, to improve your mental health. Dark green leafy vegetables are especially healthy for the brain. Nuts, seeds and legumes like beans and lentils are also great for the brain.</p>
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A three-month trial of a Mediterranean-style diet in patients with moderate to severe clinical depression demonstrated extremely significant reductions in depressive symptoms. More people who changed their diet experienced less depression.
If you’re worried about your mental health, should you change your diet? Seek a therapist to help you with your mental health. You can also work with a nutrition therapist who can gradually change your eating habits, educate you on the value of a balanced diet, and help you with your issues.
These changes cannot be undertaken if the person does not have the motivation or the right state of mind to achieve them gradually. Recording this with a food diary can increase awareness of areas that need improvement. Indeed, some days a person may feel more motivated than others.
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Although developing a balanced diet can be difficult at first, the benefits are enormous for your physical and mental well-being.
You can start by choosing healthy foods and products every day. If you’re still having trouble eating a balanced diet, talk to your doctor about seeing a nutritionist or taking vitamin D and B12 supplements.
Janvi Kapur is a counselor and holds a master’s degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
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