As the cost of nutritious food is rising, eating "healthy" becomes increasingly difficult & expensive. However, by making a few simple changes to your nutritional intake & diet, you can significantly enhance mood. Diet & mental health are directly related - as seen in this systematic review.
Positive mental well-being relies on a diet rich in a variety of nutrients, including: iron, thiamine, folate, vitamin B12, tryptophan, & omega-3 fatty acids. In order to optimize mood, decrease anxiety, improve memory, & increase attention span, you need to maintain a balance of nutrition throughout the day - starting from breakfast! As seen in the unattractive documentary - Super Size Me - fast foods are best avoided, as they have detrimental physical & psychological impacts. Research has also found strong links between processed foods & depression. Overall, the most important take-away is to eat with variety, avoid highly-processed foods or simple sugars, & maintain a natural balance of nutrients. This article from Harvard Health Publishing details nutritional psychiatry & the impact of food on your brain. |