*This is a collaborative/pre-written post.
Disclaimer
I know the subject material in this post may be sensitive to some of you who may have issues with food and eating disorders so I'm putting a Caution Note on this post for diet talk, although this post mainly refers to diet as food intake rather than a diet of restriction. There is some advice in the last paragraph about what we should be eating in moderation - foods high in fat and sugar - but assuming you're an adult if you're reading this you're in charge of yourself. I feel happiest mentally when I'm eating lots of fruit and veg, but pizza features in there occasionally too!
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Mental health sucks. There is now a study that has shown that one in four people will have some form of a mental illness. A shocking figure to reveal, and the awareness of mental health has always been rather low. People see it as a bit of a taboo subject still, and there is still a stigma around it. However, slowly but surely, people are understanding mental illnesses more.
Diet is one thing that can massively affect mental health, rather than just health. Today we’re going to explore a few points, and whether a good diet can alleviate some symptoms.
The Basics
Two of the most common mental health issues are anxiety and depression. With so many things going on in the world, and our lives always being so busy, it is easy to understand why these issues are so common. There has been research done in the last few years that suggests what we eat in our diet can influence our mental health disorders. The study suggests that nearly two thirds of people who eat fresh fruit and fruit juice every day are twice as more likely to not get a mental health disorder. So, this is what the study suggests we should be eating and doing to relieve symptoms.
There are some diets out there that really boost mental health, and make you feel wonderful about yourself. One of them is a vegan diet. A lot of people aren’t willing to try this, but it is a sure fire way of making sure you get all the vitamins and minerals that your body and mind are missing. For all the things you’ll lose from switching to a vegan diet, such as protein and omega 3, there are replacements out there. Vegan omega 3 is easy to come by, and tofu is an excellent replacement for the protein lost. This diet will see you eating so many more fruits and vegetables, which is feeding the mind with all the vitamins and minerals it needs to function at an optimal level.
Now let's explore what you should be eating in moderation. There’s already plenty of knowledge out there that we’re sure you’re aware of. Two of the things we’re sure you should be eating in moderation are foods high in sugar and fat. When you first eat something really sugary, such as a chocolate bar, the sugar within it is absorbed pretty quickly, creating a sort of high from the sugar. But what goes up, must come down, which is what happens to your mood. There has been evidence to suggest that chocolate is somewhat addictive due to the rise and drop of dopamine levels. As soon as the dopamine levels drop, you’re left wanting another one to bring yourself back up again, even if you don’t want to. Fatty foods can leave us feeling sluggish and lethargic, as well as make us put on weight. If you suffer with depression, the last thing you want is a reason to feel any more sluggish and down!
Thanks for reading. Leah xoxo
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