We have all heard that saying, “you are what you eat” but I bet you did not know that it is essentially true. Seriously, it is just common sense to know that if you eat healthy, you will feel better because your body needs certain vitamins and minerals to function properly. If you do not get enough of a certain vitamin or mineral, or even enough water, you can become lethargic, your mind may wander, and you may not be able to concentrate well. For those of us who are already having trouble remembering all the things we have to do every day, if we are not eating right, this can make you downright forgetful.
Keeping Your Brain Happy
You may have heard that you can eat certain foods to boost your brain power or sharpen your memory skills. This is actually quite true. Just like anything else in your body, your cognitive functioning (thinking) is controlled by your brain and your brain needs certain nutrients to survive. Actually, the brain is where most everything you feel starts so you better keep it healthy! There is a separate nervous system for the brain called the vagus nerve that sends information to your brain and lets the rest of your body know what is going on. That is why if you get stressed out, you may feel nauseous. We all know how bad stress can make you feel.
Feed Your Happiness
Another way that eating right makes you feel better is because of the nerve cells in your gastrointestinal system. And 95% of your body’s serotonin is made by your gastrointestinal system. Serotonin is the “feel good” neurotransmitter that puts you in a good mood, lowers stress levels, and even reduces pain. This does not mean that eating makes you happy, although many people say it does. It means that when you eat healthy foods, your stomach and intestines activates those serotonin transmitters so they can do their job and keep you feeling good.
Healthy Foods to Eat
So, what are the healthiest foods you can eat for a healthy mind? There are many and they are almost all raw, unprocessed, even organic produce and natural food. Of course, you need to eat meat for protein as well, however, if you are a vegetarian or vegan, you can get your protein from other sources. Here are some other foods that are good for your mind:
Fresh Produce
So, we all know that vegetables and fruits are good for us but did you know that it is best not to eat the canned kind? Fresh produce can increase your cognitive brain power by 60% if eaten three times a day. It is best to use organic because it does not contain the harmful chemicals many companies use on their fruits and vegetables.
Fish
Did you know your brain is mostly made with fat? Me neither until now. So, you want to make sure you get your fat but eat healthy fat such as fish that has omega-3 fatty acids. Some of these include sardines, mackerel, salmon, and herring.
Nuts
All nuts are good for you but there are certain ones that are really good for your mental health because they also contain omega-3 fatty acids. This includes walnuts, almonds, and cashews. These have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, ADHD, and even schizophrenia. Almonds contain a high amount of vitamin E, which is great to reduce memory loss.
Dark Chocolate
Yes, that is right, chocolate is healthy too, in moderation of course. Not the fattening milk chocolate kind, though. You have to get the kind with the highest cocoa amount, about 75%. Experts say that if you eat four ounces of dark chocolate, you will get 12 grams of fiber, 60% of your recommended daily amount of magnesium, almost 70% of your recommended daily amount of iron, 90% of your recommended daily amount of copper, and almost 100% of your recommended daily amount of manganese. However, you should eat it in moderation because it also has about 600 calories. Maybe you should just have one or two ounces instead. And the best part, studies have shown that it significantly improved cognitive function.
However, if you are feeling depressed or anxious for more than a couple of weeks and it starts to affect your daily routine, it may be time to talk to a professional. Online therapy is fast, easy, and less expensive than traditional therapy and you do not even have to leave your home or make an appointment.
Marie Miguel Biography
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
