How Good Nutrition Plays a Big Role in Mental Health

One of the most significant factors that contribute to mental health is the role of nutrition. Aside from the impact that nutrition can contribute to short and long-term mental health, studies also indicate that food has a basic role in the development, management and prevention of specific mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease. Minding your food intake is not only related to the quick ways to lose weight in Jacksonville FL, but for your mental health as well.

Did you know that people who are dealing with health problems are the ones who are more likely to experience weight problems? Some people always feel tired and hungry. This is the reason why goodnutrition is always involved in any medical weight loss program. Eating well keeps your weight in normal state and allows your body to obtain necessary food groups and vitamins that it needs. Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day was related to better mental wellbeing in a fresh study at the University of Warwick in the UK.

Having abalanced diet does not only make a huge difference to one’s physical health,but is a great shot in one’s mental health as well. You can ensure balanced mood and feelings of well-being with a diet that provides sufficient amounts of complex carbohydrates, essential fats, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and water.

Today, there is no denying that our eating habits and “eating” itself is very different from that of our recent ancestors. Food production and manufacturing techniques, coupled with fluctuating lifestyle and growing access to processed foods mean that our intake of fresh, nutritious foods gets lower, as our intake of fat, sugar, alcohol and additives becomes higher. Make it a conscious effort to be very picky when it comes to the types of food that you eat. Read labels or start growing your own vegetables in your backyard.

Furthermore,you can avoid depression by taking in more foods rich in Vitamin D. Vitamin D is thought to play a role in Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is  a type of depression that commonly begins in the fall, lasts through winter and subsides in the sunnier spring and summer months. It also helps the body absorb calcium for strong teeth and bones. Fishes like salmon and tuna have the most naturally occurring Vitamin D. 

photo credit: mentalhealthcenter.org