It is true what they say, “You are what you eat.” With mental health the same rule applies. The food that you consume every day affects how well you live and how you think. Are you intrigued? Actually, there is a very simple scientific explanation to it.
If a person consumes too much food or too less of it, it directly impacts the brain. With too many calories, the brain of a human being has a high risk of cell damage. On the other hand, if you have too less of these calories, the brain can make you mentally impaired and cloudy. Eating just the right amount of food every day, can keep your brain and thoughts healthy.
Not only the amount of the food consumed, it also matters what type of food you are consuming as well. Different types of foods play a different role in human body. For example, research shows that people who consume probiotics (good bacteria) have lower anxiety levels, stress and have an improved mental state in general, compared to people who do not take probiotics. Other studies have shown that compared to western diets, the Mediterranean diet and the traditional Japanese diet are better for you as they decrease the risk of depression by 25 to 35 percent in people who consume them.
What Should You Eat?
The best diet for your brain is the one that is balanced and is nutritious, like the Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Foods that have antioxidants, fatty acids, vitamins, mineral, and healthy fatty acids are really good for your brain.
Healthy fatty acids like Omega-3 are what the brain is made of, so they are especially food for babies, children and pregnant women. These fatty acids are important for brain function and memory as a person grows old. They also perform a protective function against development of menta diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. For these Omega-3s, you should consume nuts, seeds, and fish like salmon and tuna.
Antioxidants which are abundant in fruits and vegetables, protect the brain from oxidative stress. When a human body consumes oxygen, it leaves behind waste that can damage brain cells and can even cause cancer. Food rich in oxidants help prevent this damage. For these antioxidants, a person should have a diet rich in olive oil, blueberries, kale, garlic, and fish like salmon.
One important thing to remember is to drink plenty of water everyday as well as it is needed by the body and the to perform important functions that directly affect your mental prowess.
What foods Should You Avoid?
Highly refined sugars are bad for your mental and brain health. These foods, like cookies, candies, ice-cream, and sodas can cause you to have lethargy and low brain function.
You should always remember that you are as good as your brain health at any time. So, choose what you eat wisely and always eat just enough that is needed by your body in a day.
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