Premium food - Positive mood
Junk food - Mood swings
When feeling blue, you may crave calorie-rich, high sugar foods to try to lift your spirits but it is unlikely to help you in the long term and may have negative consequences as well. Good nutrition is important to mental health as it is to physical health. What you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood.
Unhealthy eating patterns can cause mood swings. Missing a meal, especially breakfast, can lead to low blood sugar leaving you feeling weak and tired. Not consuming enough calories can lead to problems, such as feeling foggy, tired and low energy. A diet lacking essential nutrients can disrupt brain chemistry and alter mood and behavior. High intakes of unhealthy, processed carbohydrates, such as white bread and pastries lead to low energy, irritability, feeling sluggish and contribute to a larger waistline.
Food contributes to the development, prevention, and management of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders. A healthy eating plan can keep you energized and help you to feel your best physically and emotionally. Healthy-diet has a great effect on gut microbiota, neuroplasticity (brain’s ability to modify structure, wiring and function), and cellular damage. Eating high-quality premium foods that contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes the brain and protects it from oxidative stress. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with depression and mood disorders- sunshine plays a vital role in mood disorders.
Fill your plate with mood-supporting foods by eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, eggs, leafy greens, legumes, flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts, almonds, spinach, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds which improves sleep patterns and help fight off feelings of depression. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
Dr. Nancy Kurian
The Wellness Architect
Founder and Managing Director Golden Threads