How a Healthy Diet Can Affect Your Mental Health

Mental health has a significant impact on your ability to think, feel, cope with obstacles, and how you behave on a daily basis. Strong mental health isn’t necessarily the absence of mental health problems, it refers to the positive characteristics present as well. Healthy individuals tend to have a positive outlook and don’t typically experience an inability to have fun or be happy. Strong mental health indicators also include the ability to overcome stress, maintain active relationships, learn new skills, balance work and leisure, and have a healthy sense of self-esteem. 

While there are dozens of factors that can impact your mental health. This article will address two of the most important, sleep and diet. Read on to see how these two factors can boost your mental health and get you back on track to a healthier you. 

Eating a Brain-Healthy Diet

Eating has a major impact on both the body and mind. Eat too little and you can feel weak, eat too much and you feel sluggish. What you eat also matters. An unhealthy diet does not allow your body to operate at maximum capacity and can even make you feel sick, disrupt your sleep, and weaken your immune system. 

Foods that can negatively impact your health include:

  • Caffeine
  • Alcohol
  • Trans fats
  • Foods with high levels of chemicals
  • Snacks with lots of sugar
  • Fried foods

Switching to a more wholesome and healthy diet can reverse these effects. Foods that are lower in sugar, are less processed, and rich in healthy fats are just what your brain needs to operate and function well. 

Foods that can positively impact your health include:

  • Fatty fish rich in Omega 3s
  • Nuts such as almonds, cashews, and peanuts
  • Avocados
  • Beans
  • Leafy greens
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables

By cutting out these potentially damaging foods, you can vastly improve your overall health. By keeping your body fueled with foods that speed up bodily and mental processes, you can enjoy increased energy, improved sleep, and major improvements to your mood which can lead to less stress and more happiness. Use your diet to promote brain health, so you can better overcome obstacles and stressors throughout the day.