What We Eat Can Affect Our Mental Health
The food we eat gives our bodies the “information” and materials they need to function properly. If we don’t get the right information, our metabolic processes suffer and our health declines.
What you need to know
A deficiency in essential minerals and nutrients has been acknowledged as a contributing factor in the onset of mental health issues like bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety attacks.
This has led to an increase in the exploration of nutritional psychiatry, where the use of dietary nutrients and supplements is a component of an integrated treatment programme for mental health conditions. Although this is not currently widespread practice, it should be. The current treatment for depression is primarily focused on counselling sessions and antidepressant medication, yet depression is on the rise.
Getting the right nutrition
You may not be getting enough nutrition even when you eat three meals a day.Pay attention to whether you are eating the types of food that improves brain health, and if you aren’t, consider how much sugar and processed food you are consuming.
Your mental wellness may very well depend on you cutting back on those high-calorie, nutrient-deficient foods. We are now becoming more aware of this link, as the body of knowledge on the impact of nutritional deficiencies on mental health grows.