Lettuce taco-bout mental health!

Today is World Mental Health Day, so now is as good a time as any to taco-bout the importance of a healthy diet in maintaining your mental health.

We’ve all heard the saying ‘you are what you eat’, so what does that mean for our brains and mental health?

More and more research is linking the food that we eat with the development of mental disorders. So far, the evidence suggests that a nutrient-rich diet is a protective factor for good mental well-being, whereas an energy-dense diet can contribute to depression and anxiety. 

Quality nutrition is essential for maintaining healthy thoughts and feelings. The food you put in your body makes up the building blocks for your cells and provides the fuel for your brain to function to its optimal capacity.

When your body receives high quality foods of a wide variety, it has all the tools it needs to keep functioning at its best. Additionally, a good diet means healthy bacteria are provided for your gut to do its job successfully, helping your body to retain what is needed.

Glucose is the brain's main source of energy. When your brain does not receive this essential energy, you can feel sluggish and experience ‘brain fog’. A well-balanced diet improves sleep, boosts concentration, provides energy and reduces cravings for energy-dense foods. 

If you’ve been feeling down, have a look at what you eat every day. You might not be getting enough of the vitamins, nutrients, iron, and protein that your body needs. You might also want to have a look at the saturated fats and the sugar you’re eating and cut back if it’s too high.

Be sure not to cut out food groups or make drastic changes to your diet without first speaking to a health and nutrition expert. But it is important that you are aware of what you are eating and understand the significant impact your food has on your mental well-being!

It’s important to talk to your GP if you have any concerns related to your diet and food consumption.

Useful Resources

https://headspace.org.au/young-people/eating-for-a-healthy-headspace/

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/good-mood-food-how-food-influences-mental-wellbeing-anxiety-depression-stress

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-016-1249-9