The brain is by far one of the most important organs in the body. It serves as the command center for every other part of your body. It is also one of the hardest working organs as it must continually operate even as you sleep. There are a number of things one must do to keep their brains in tip-top shape, however, one of the most important is consuming proper nutrition.
Consider a car. In order for the engine to continue operating effectively, you need to keep it properly fueled. Filling your car up with the wrong grade of fuel will essentially cause problems in the engine and throughout the rest of the working parts. However, using premium-grade fuel boosts your car’s performance and speed. The same is true for your mind and mental well-being.
If you want to sustain positive mental health you have to ensure that your brain is getting the proper vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and nutrients it needs to remain balanced.
Here’s the Science
Still not quite sure how the foods you eat can impact your mood? Here’s the science. There is a connection between the brain and your gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). Your GI tract has tons of bacteria that aid in producing neurotransmitters sent from the brain. Dopamine and serotonin, for instance, are chemicals responsible for your feel-good mood.
When you eat healthy foods it helps your GI tract to produce good bacteria that supports the healthy production neurotransmitters responsible for your mood. On the contrary, consuming unhealthy foods causes inflammation which slows down the production of positive neurotransmitters.
Is Your Diet Negatively Impacting Your Mood?
Now that you have a better understanding of how food regulates your mood, ask yourself if what you’re eating could be negatively affecting your mental health. If you’re eating foods that are overly processed, high in salt, saturated fat, or sugar, the answer is yes. Consuming these foods slows down the production of feel-good hormones leaving you emotionally overwhelmed.
What to Do About It
If you believe your diet could be impacting your mood in a negative way or you simply would like to eat better to enhance your mood, it is possible to make healthy changes. As switching your diet can be challenging when you’re used to eating what you want, here are some suggestions on how to gradually change your eating habits for an improved mood.
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Consider Clean Eating Programs – When you don’t know where to start, having a “roadmap” can be useful. There are tons of nutrition programs out there for individuals who want to improve their eating habits. Some of the most beneficial include clean eating. This is a diet program that centers its nutrition around whole foods in their most natural form while avoiding the consumption of processed foods. This is ideal for cleansing the body so that your GI tract is healthy and can assist the brain in producing positive hormones.
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Find Alternatives for Favorite Foods – Old habits die hard. When it comes to food, it can really get rough. While some things may be easy to let go, others that you really enjoy won’t. The best way to put down foods that aren’t good for you is to find something that tastes just as delicious without the negative ingredients. Research recipes for some of your favorite foods from pizza and fried chicken to ice cream and cake and start incorporating them into your meal plans.
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Supplements Can Help Too – As you’re working towards developing healthier eating habits you may want to look into dietary supplements. They can be very beneficial in helping the mind and body to get the nutrition it needs. There are multivitamins and other dietary supplements that ideal for overall good health. You can also consider other mental health aids like cbd oil. Just be sure that you purchase from a trusted vendor and educate yourself on everything from CBD oil to hash vs weed to ensure you’re making the best selection for improved mental health.
When they say you are what you eat, they’re not only referring to your physical appearance. What you eat has a direct connection to how you feel. If you’ve been suffering from mental illnesses like anxiety or depression, you’ve been feeling down, or you simply want to feel the best you can every day, a change to your eating habits can make a world of difference.