This article was kindly written and contributed by Lewis Robinson.
When it comes to dealing with a mental health problem, whether it's a temporary bout of the blues or a more serious issue like anxiety or depression, it can sometimes be difficult to know what to do. This can be particularly true if you find yourself in a situation where medication or therapy does not seem to be helping you like you would like for it to.
If traditional methods for healing your mental health do not seem to be as effective as you hoped, then it might be time to start looking at other ways to improve your mental health, and start taking your healing into your own hands.
The Connection Between Diet and Mental Health
What some may not realize is that there can be a direct connection between their mental health and their daily habits, or that their body can affect their mind and vice versa. This is often referred to as the mind-body connection. The theory behind this is that your mood can have a direct impact on how you feel physically, and that physical sensations you experience can also impact your mood and overall happiness. This can be particularly true when it comes to things like how much physical activity you get, how much sleep you get, and also your diet.
Your diet can be particularly impactful in part because what you eat is converted by your body into energy. If you eat low quality foods, your body will not be able to produce the energy you need properly, and you will often feel unwell or tired, which can lead to a worsened mental state. By learning to eat more foods that can be beneficial for mental health like high impact whey protein reviews and avoiding foods that will damage it, you can often improve your mental health over time.
Foods That Are Beneficial for Mental Health
If you are trying to eat a diet that will boost your mental health, the first thing you need to do is make sure that you are eating as much nutrient dense food as possible. Fresh, leafy greens are a great source of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and iron, which are great for improving energy levels and mood. Additionally, making sure that you get enough fiber from foods like broccoli and apples can be beneficial for mental health in many ways as well. This is because when your digestive system is sluggish, it may not be able to process old hormones and other substances in your digestive tract. When you experience a build up of these kinds of substances, it can lead to a hormonal imbalance, which can lead to further mood issues.
Foods That Can Harm Mental Health
While you are increasing the amount of mood-boosting foods you eat, you also need to cut out the kinds of foods that can be damaging to your physical and mental health. One of the worst foods for you when it comes to your mood is sugar, along with refined carbs. Sugar may give you a boost temporarily, but when you experience a sugar crash, it can cause a lot of problems for your mental state. Similarly to sugar, refined carbs can cause spikes and crashes in your blood sugar which can worsen mood, and by extension your mental health. Even though it may not always be easy to cut out these foods completely as they are common ingredients, taking steps to avoid them can be worth it not just for your blood sugar, but for your overall well being, too.
The Bottom Line
If you are struggling with a mental health problem, and things like medication and therapy aren't as effective for you as you had hoped they would be, it can be discouraging, and you may feel like you don't know what to do next. While this isn't always an easy situation to be in, the truth is that there are things you can do to help improve your situation on your own, especially when it comes to your diet.
