Diet and Your Mood
Did you know that 19% of Americans or about 47 million people suffer from some form of mental illness? From depression to social anxiety and PTSD, quality of life can be significantly reduced when the mind isn’t functioning as it should. The good news – lifestyle and diet can, in many cases, make all the difference in your mood.
Nutritional psychiatry is the study of how food affects mood. Is it true that healthy eating can improve our mood or is it just a bunch of hype? Keep reading for the facts about eating and mental health.
Does Diet Affect Mood?
The short answer is simply yes it does. Doctors, researchers, and scientists continue to uncover the secrets of our biology and their findings always point to our physical and mental health being very much connected.
everyone knows that what you eat is a big part of keeping your body healthy so it is not a far stretch to say diet and mood are connected. What we eat mixes with our community of bacteria, proteins, acids, and digestive juices to change how the body feels. The body then communicates with the brain about how it feels.
Your Gut Has Feelings?
Believe it or not – you have a second brain in your stomach. Of course, it is much different than the brain in your head, but the gut and your unique combination of thousands of microorganisms and chemical cocktails do play an important “thinking” role.
The gut and brain connection is something we are all aware of. The term “gut feeling” is more literal than you might think. The lion’s share of the chemical serotonin in our body is found in the digestive system. Serotonin is responsible for feelings of well-being and happiness.
What Food is Best to Improve Mood
Maybe you have heard about so-called “brain foods” that improve your mental capacity. Well obviously, these foods, which include blueberries and salmon, are a great place to start.
Yet, a healthy diet to avoid mood swings is more about what not to eat. Processed food has all sorts of nasty additives that tend to wreak havoc on our digestive system and negatively affecting our mood.
For a brighter more convincing smile, overcome junk food cravings and take care of your stomach. Eat natural whole foods. Get to know what your gut handles well and what it doesn’t.
The variety and balanced nutrition from all the food groups that nutritionists are always talking about are not only good for our physical health but, by very close proxy, our mental health as well.
Last Thoughts on Nutritional Psychiatry
Although nutritional psychiatry isn’t an exact science and it is impossible to say exactly what you should eat to promote a healthy mental state, eating better certainly has the power to make you feel better. Don’t underestimate the power of a healthy diet to improve all aspects of your life, including your mental and emotional health.
Let Us help You Out
At CONDITIONerd we are here to help you achieve better physical and mental health through exercise. Check out the plans we offer to our customers and see if you could benefit from working with our team. And if you have questions, you can always contact a CONDITIONerd team member.
Personal trainers, like those found here, can help guide you on your pathway towards reaching your fitness goals, whether that is getting bigger, stronger, faster, more lean, or just generally feeling better.
We can get you setup with a periodized workout plan, supplement information, and advice on nutrition to help you reach your goals.
The only thing you need is some motivation and a willingness to change some old habits.
Get into contact with us to find out what membership is right for you. In a CONDITIONerd program, you’ll be surrounded by others who can help you to get where you want to be.
Generally, our clients start to see some pretty awesome changes in 2-3 months time, some sooner.
