Food and mental health?! Let's talk

What you eat has affects your physical  and mental health. Eating a balanced diet rich in nutrients can help improve your sense of wellbeing and mood. The relationship between mental health and diet is complex. Research however shows that what you eat is linked with how we feel. Many cultures practice fasting and cleansing of the diet during practices designed to clear one's mind.

It is believed the brain is always working, It is responsible for al your thoughts and movements, your sense, your breathing and heartbeat and much more. The brain works hard even when you sleep. This means that the brain uses and requires a lot of fuel to function at its best. This “fuel” comes from the food we eat and what is in the food makes a huge difference. The food you eat affects the function and structure of the brain and your mood. The brain functions at its best when it gets premium fuel. This means eating high-quality foods with a lot of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. These nourish the brain and protect it from the oxidative stress (the waste) produced when the body uses the oxygen in the body.

According to Felice Jacka, President of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research, there is evidence today to suggest that diet is important to mental health same way its important to physical health. A healthy diet is protective to the brain while an unhealthy diet predisposes your brain to anxiety and depression.

Eating well helps you feel better. You don’t have to make so big and sometimes drastic changes to your diet. Here are tips you can follow:

• Eat a good balance of fats. The brain requires healthy fats to keep working at its best. These are found in olive oil, buts, rapeseed oil, eggs, milk, avocados, and oily fish.
• Add proteins. Proteins contain amino acids that the brain uses to regulate mood.
• More whole grains, vegetables and fruits are great for the brain. Thy contain minerals and vitamins the brain needs to stay healthy.
• Avoid caffeine, especially when going to sleep. It causes sleep problems and makes some people anxious and irritable.
• Take care of your gut health. The gut reflects how you are feeling. If you feel stressed, it speeds or slows down. Healthy food for your gut includes probiotics, beans, fruits, and vegetables. Add a nine day cerasee cleanse.

The brain requires foods from all food groups.  Avoid highly processed foods and go for the highly nutritious foods for your mental health.