Feeding Your Mind

16 Aug Feeding Your Mind

Have you ever heard the phrase “you are what you eat”? We often forget when driving through that McDonalds or grabbing that quick soda at the gas station what we are doing not only to our body, but to our mental health state. We forget that the mind is part of the body. When we feed our body, we are also feeding our mind. Most of us often take for granted the pill we take to treat our moods or other ailments, (I by no means am saying we don’t need medications as I freely admit to clients, family and friends my need for psychotropic medication in conjunction with nutrition and daily exercise) but why make it work harder and have to take more by working against the medication. Looking at the food you consume is necessary in the treatment of your mental health and the best and easiest place to start is to ADD in foods that you may already enjoy and may already be eating. Below is a simple guide taken from:

http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/nutrition-strategies-for-te-muth-md-mph-rdn-faap-stress-and-pain-management
The following foods may not make the stress go away, but they may reduce the negative health effects that are highly associated with chronic stress, including depression, anxiety, insomnia and cardiovascular disease.

• Turkey, shrimp, dairy, soy and pumpkin seeds contain high amounts of the amino acid tryptophan, which is associated with a boost in the “happiness hormone” serotonin, which in turn may lessen depression and anxiety.

• Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and asparagus are loaded with folic acid, a vitamin associated with serotonin production.

• Dairy products, sunshine and other sources of vitamin D may boost serotonin levels through an increase in the enzyme that converts tryptophan to serotonin.

• Oatmeal and other complex carbohydrates can stimulate the brain to produce serotonin. Carbohydrates that are absorbed more slowly help to ensure a steadier supply of serotonin.

• Oranges, grapefruits, red and green peppers, and many other fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C, which can aid in lowering blood levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline and ease the subjective feeling of being stressed.

• Crunchy veggies like carrots and celery sticks don’t possess any special nutritional content for fighting stress per se, but the crunchy sensation that comes from eating them provides mechanical stress relief.