Foods That Can Improve Mental Health
September 15th, 2009 | by admin |
Mental health can be attributed to many things, and one of those things is diet. This has warranted the most attention from the mental health community than perhaps any other form of therapy. Nutritional awareness and increased popularity of non-pharmaceutical solutions to health problems has led to a great deal of press and some pretty strong claims on both sides of the mental health argument.
1. Eating Patterns
It’s no secret that eating habits are related to mood – people tend to eat when they are sad or depressed for example. Things like poor nutrition, a failure to eat on an appropriate schedule and other factors are common to both.
2. Low Carbohydrate Diet
Certain diets have a discernible impact on mood and mental health. The popular low carbohydrate diets that are often vaunted as a great means of promoting weight loss, for instance, may increase the risk of depression. This is because foods rich in carbohydrates tell the body to produce chemicals including tryptophan and serotonin. These substances create a sense of well being in a person and their absence can have a dramatic impact on mood. Many people who cut carbohydrates from their diets may experience depressive symptoms as a result of the shortfall in these substances. The impact of carbohydrate intake on depression remains somewhat unclear. Of course, it does serve as an example of the way our bodies interplay with food can influence our emotional state.
3. You Are What You Eat
We have all heard the old clich» that you are what you eat. As with most oft-repeated phrases, its popularity is largely based on its accuracy. What we take into our body does have a profound impact on how well it functions. Although we often tend to think of mental health problems as being divorced from the physical realm, they do originate in the body. It only makes sense to consider how various nutrients and dietary habits may affect depression and other mental health concerns.
4. Vitamins
Certain vitamins also seem to be linked with depression. The B vitamin group, in particular, is often mentioned alongside depression. This is because B vitamins are key to the functioning of our nervous systems. Vitamin B6 is one example. Research has demonstrated that those suffering from depression often have very low levels of Vitamin B6 in their systems (as well as low levels of the aforementioned seratonin). Although most citizens living in industrialized nations generally to manage sufficient dietary impact of B6, certain medications (including birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy drugs) actually interfere with B6 ingestion.
5.Overhaul Your Diet
Far too many people eat out. It might shock you to actually discover how many calories are in a single hamburger these days. Eating a healthy and well-rounded diet consistent with recognized nutritional recommendations may be a good way of battling depression. A failure to restrict your diet to healthy choices may make you fat, and being fat might make you more depressed – being depressed makes you eat, and the vicious cycle continues. Break the cycle!
John Morris
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/foods-that-can-improve-mental-health-50295.html
2 Responses to “Foods That Can Improve Mental Health”
By Kyle9211 on Sep 15, 2009 | Reply
How can I improve my mental health?
I used to think that I was smart, however recently I have been thinking about my life, and I realize now that I am not very intelligent.
I feel that if I am able to improve my ability to think clearly, and also my memory, I will be able to accomplish much more than I do now.
I want to know how I can train my brain to become more intelligent, and if it is even possible.
Are certain foods and beverages good to drink for improving mental health?
What about green tea? I heard that it improves your mind. Is that true?
I also think that I may have some minor mental retardation. I have no exceptionally strong proof, but there have been some minor things that might indicate that I have some problem with the brain.
For example I have OCD, but was able to stop doing the ‘rituals’ by doing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Also I tend to be very hyper a lot, and I am not sure why.
If anyone has any ideas on how to improve my mental health, please say so.
Thanks,
Kyle
P.S. I’m a 15 year old boy
By April L on Sep 15, 2009 | Reply
Here are four important things you can do to increase your intelligence.
First, stay in school and take challenging classes. Education is related to intelligence.
Second, engage in regular aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise improves circulation and improves cognitive performance at all ages.
Third, take care of your health more generally. There aren’t really any magic foods, but good nutrition, good sleep, and avoidance of toxins keep your brain healthy.
Finally, try new things. Even as a teenager, you can fall into the trap of only doing the things you are good at. Don’t let yourself avoid learning new skills.
More importantly, however, intelligence is only a part of the issue. IQ is the best predictor we have of school performance, but it still only explain about half of the differences between kids in their grades. You can make up for average or below average brain power by being hard-working, open to new ideas, and conscientious. This is even more true about other areas in life, like work or relationship success.
Finally, you don’t write like someone who is mentally retarded, and I have a hard time imagining that you are and you have never been diagnosed by your school. The OCD part of you is a worrier. Worry can actually interfere with concentration and memory. Let it go. Work hard, be healthy, enjoy your life, and don’t worry too much about how smart you are. You’ll do just fine.
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