It’s no secret that certain foods can make you feel good. Well, what if you were told that a healthier diet could improve your mental health? It’s true! It might be hard to believe something as simple as eating right could impact your state of mind, but it’s true. Here are five proven ways healthy eating benefits your mental health.
1. Helps Fight Depression
Not many people know that poor eating habits can be one factor that leads to depression. According to Medical News Today, certain foods that may cause you to feel depressed include alcohol and processed foods.
These include foods that are high in sugar and sodium. Instead, choose foods that are high in fiber and low in fat. They may be beneficial for your overall health and even help you fight depression. For instance, many fast foods and packaged food containing soy and soybean oil can affect the part of the brain that controls emotions.
2. Increase Alertness
Fatty fish and garlic are two of the best foods to improve alertness. These foods contain essential nutrients that help the brain work better, and these substances improve brain function and concentration.
Moreover, they have a low glycemic index (GI), which means they’re good for you. Some people find that drinking green tea can also help them stay sharp and focused. Besides, it also contains L-theanine, an amino acid that crosses the blood-brain barrier.
A good source of magnesium is a cup of green tea and fruity freeze-dried snacks. It also contains l-theanine, an amino acid that increases focus and tranquillity. It’s important to note that consuming too much caffeine will result in crashing.
Combining these ingredients will improve your mental alertness and overall focus and concentration.
3. Slows Down Brain Ageing
A new study shows that specific diets (and avoiding others) can delay brain aging by 7.5 years and lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in older people. This is good news. Some of these foods are also known to reduce the risk of age-related neurodegenerative disorders.
Walnuts, salmon, and leafy greens are among the best choices for boosting your mental alertness. However, it would help if you were careful not to eat too many of these foods. If you’re concerned about the side effects, try to eat less caffeine and consume more healthy food.
4. Memory Boost
Research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may boost memory. You can get these from salmon, sardines, fatty fish, and walnuts. You can also cook them in various ways to make them more tasty and palatable.
If you don’t like fish, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian nutritionist to determine which other foods you should include. Eating a large amount of fish each week can delay the onset of dementia.
Dark leafy greens are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. They are essential for brain health and have decreased dementia risks. They also increase circulation in the brain, which is a significant factor in improving memory.
Nuts also contain the antioxidant vitamin E, slowing down cognitive decline. And of course, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to add more of these healthy foods to your diet.
5. Keeps Off Anxiety
It might come as a shock to coffee lovers out there, but there is a direct correlation between caffeine and anxiety. By suppressing the brain chemical (adenosine) that makes you feel weary, caffeine boosts alertness while at the same time triggering the release of adrenalin.
High doses of caffeine can amplify these effects, resulting in anxiety related to caffeine use. People with panic disorder and social anxiety disorder are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of excessive coffee consumption.
You can track how much caffeine you drink if you have chronic anxiety. Try to cut back on coffee gradually. If you notice that you have difficulty quitting, you should switch to decaf coffee or try other alternatives such as chamomile tea or cinnamon and turmeric drinks. Seven Tea’s delicious white peach oolong tea can also be a great alternative for your caffeine intake. These alternatives are lovely for the neurotransmitters in your brain.
Conclusion
Eating healthy is one of the greatest gifts you can give your mind and body. Not only does eating well keep your brain more alert, but it can also reduce depression, prevent mood swings, quash anxiety and even add years onto your life. Healthy eating is the foundation of good mental health.
Added guide on the benefits of introducing quality fiber into your diet : Amazing Health Benefits
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
