5 DIET CHANGES THAT CAN HELP YOU TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH THIS YEAR

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When it comes to our physical health, we know the importance of our food choices. However, in the realm of taking care of our minds, the role played by what’s on our plates is seldom discussed. That’s a shame because having a healthy diet rich in nutrients and antioxidants can significantly improve our mood, motivation, and general well-being.

Although, serious mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric disorders require appropriate management by a doctor, the positive impact that diet can have shouldn’t be neglected. In fact, making sure that we get all the vitamins and minerals we need can help our brain chemistry and makes it easier for us to take charge of our mental health.

1. Eating More Fruits and Vegetables

Colorful, vibrant, and nutrient-rich — it makes sense that fruits and vegetables are good for our mood. Common sense might already have told you so but it turns out that science backs it up as well.

Thanks to their high content in vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables have been shown to directly impact our brain chemistry. Minerals like chromium, iodine, iron, selenium, magnesium, and zinc, especially, play an important role in the production of neurotransmitters involved with mood regulation in our brain. Other nutrients found in fruit such as B-vitaminsvitamin C, and vitamin E are also key to optimal neurochemical functions.

Want to make sure you get all the vitamins and minerals listed above? We suggest including more dark leafy greens, broccoli, root vegetables, sea vegetables, avocado, berries, and fruit into your diet as they are all great sources. You can also try out these Root Vegetables Roasted in Coconut Milk With Salted, this Winter Kale Vegetable Stew With Rutabaga Noodles, this Kohlrabi Schnitzel Burger, and this Berry and Fennel Salad With Coconut Yogurt.

8376290894?profile=RESIZE_400x2. Putting More Healthy Carbs on Your Plate

Did you know that sweet potatoes naturally contain L-tryptophan, an amino acid used by our body to produce the neurotransmitters that regulate our mood? Other sources of healthy carbohydrates such as brown rice, oats, beans, lentils, quinoa, starchy vegetables, and squashes, also aid in the synthesis of tryptophan to produce serotonin, the feel-good hormone.

Complex carbs are typically rich in B-vitamins which are essential to the maintenance of optimal neurological functions and the proper balance of neurochemicals in our brain. A deficiency in these vitamins is actually associated with an increased incidence of experiencing depressive symptoms. On the flip side, consuming more than the recommended daily amount is linked with an improvement in mood and reported mental health.

If you need recipe ideas to get your fill of healthy carbs everyday, we’ve got you covered. Try out this Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili, this Warm Potato Salad With Spinach and Chickpeas, this Hearty Lentil Broccoli Bolognese, and this Sweet Potato and Quinoa Chili.

3. Increasing Your Healthy Fats Intake

Including healthy sources of omega-3s into our diet is important as fatty acids play a crucial role in our brain’s chemistry. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to help reduce symptoms of depression, likely due to its effect on the conversion of chemicals our brain needs. Not sure what the best healthy fats to consume on a plant-based diet are? Some of our favorite sources include avocados, hemp seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds, tahini, nuts and nut butters, and algae.

We suggest making this Hippie Macro Glow Bowl With Maple Turmeric Tahini Dressing, this Hummus, Avocado, and Sun-dried Tomato Sandwich, these Smoky Black Bean and Hemp Seed Burgers, and this Creamy Pumpkin Seed Alfredo With Kale and Sweet Peas to use up all these delicious plant-based fats.

8376292101?profile=RESIZE_400x4. Focusing on Greens

Packed with vitamins and minerals, greens are great for our brain as folate, vitamin K, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and calcium all play a role in modulating neurotransmitter functions in our brain. Not getting enough folate and magnesium, especially, has been linked to an increase in symptoms for depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders. Making sure you include greens in your diet daily is a good way to prevent worsening of symptoms and can even help your adherence to antidepressants medication.

5. Including Probiotics

Our gut health is not only essential for seamless digestion, it turns out that it’s also important for our brain functions. The state of our microbiome, that is the balance between good and bad bacteria that colonizes our GI tract, impacts the proper functioning of multiple neurotransmitter circuits in our brain, including those involved with mood regulation such as GABA and serotonin. Thus, having a good dose of probiotics everyday is a great way to help your body and brain achieve a healthy balance that will improve your ability to deal with the stressors of your busy life.

Want to up your intake of probiotics and help your gut and brain? You have to make these Kimchi Mushroom Burgers, this Roasted Broccoli and Sauerkraut Quesadilla, this 4-Ingredient Probiotic Oat Yogurt, and this Miso Soup With Garlicky Lentils, Kale, and Mushrooms.

We also suggest checking out Probiotic Foods You Need to Add to Your Diet and 7 Natural Ways to Boost Your Gut Health at Every Meal for more info on the best sources of gut-friendly bacteria on a plant-based diet!

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Recommended Resources and Recipes

 

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/diet-changes-improve-...

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Replies to This Discussion

Thank you.

It all sounds so yummy!

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