“A person is what he eats” but have you ever wondered about the effect it has on your psychological well-being? Or a much simpler question: Has it ever crossed your mind to think why you’re more relaxed when you’re dripping in sweat after you have taken a vigorous exercise or why you feel more refreshed after you have taken a healthy meal?
In this case, it is the attainment of more than physical gratification. The mind and body are intertwined and feeding our body directly and definitely affects the mind.
Mental health is the much needed focus in the current world where changes happen in a blink of an eye. Treatment involves mainly using drugs and consultation with professionals while seldom paying attention to food choices and workouts as a viable way to improve mental health. The purpose of this article is to explore this phenomenon in detail, how it works, and what concrete steps and approaches individuals could take to enhance physical and mental well-being.
So by the time you are done reading, you will get to know how small changes in your daily activities can translate to big results for your health.
Fueling Your Mind: Power of food
Did you know that food has the ability to either improve or worsen your mood and state of health. Apart from physiological health, nutrition is a central actor in defining our psychological health. Now it is time to overview ‘how’ this magical bond really works.
One can hardly argue that there are certain nutrients which are super heroes for our heads. Like:
- Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as fatty fish and nuts, reduce the inflammation levels and also helps in improving the feelings.
- Vitamin B helps in managing energy and brain function and hence it can help reduce feelings of low mood.
- Vitamin D which is also referred to as the sunshine vitamin has been known to have good effects on human health, including the management of mood swings.
- As for antioxidants present in colorful fruits and veggies, they help in preventing oxidative stress to brain cells and promote good health.
It may come as a shock to many, but a balanced diet is not only about the body but mental health as well. Consistent energy levels and consistent mood are directly associated with nutritive food consumption including whole grain foods, lean meat and healthy fats.
The same way fuel is to a car, food to the body – the right kind gives the best results.
This is the truth, in the wise words of Ann Wigmore who rightly said that, “Food is either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison. ”
The Endorphin Effect: How Physical Activity Elevates Mood
Exercise is not only a physical activity; it is also one of the most effective ways to improve one’s mood due to the presence of endorphins in the body. These ‘happy’ hormones work within the brain to relieve discomfort and produce an inspiring sensation often known as the ‘runner’s high. ’
Not only does exercise make you feel happier in the short term but it will also combat the long-term effects of stress by lowering cortisol, the stress hormone. Taken together, these effects make exercise an obvious and especially effective treatment for anxiety and for improving one’s mood.
Routine Benefits: The Comprehensive Impact of Regular Exercise
Exercising on a regular basis gives numerous mental health benefits apart from the instant feel-good factor given by the endorphin rush. Exercise continues to be praised as an important requisite to personal health and has long been recommended as a supportive treatment for mental disorders.
- Improved Sleep: Exercise has the ability of improving sleep quality and duration since it assists in easing people to relax, reducing the amount of time it takes to be asleep. It also helps one to attain deep sleep and increases the heavy phase of sleep, this is very essential to mental health.
- Reduced Anxiety: Physical activity that is sustained over time has been found to aid in decreasing anxiety symptoms among people. Exercise also tends to calm down the nervous system.
- Enhanced Cognitive Function: Exercise helps in the growth of new blood areas in the brain that in turn promotes one’s memory, focus and anything that has to do with the brain.
As Bill Phillips writes, “exercise is the most powerful; yet underrated antidepressant” but people need to understand that physical activity can be helpful only up to a certain extent.
Harvard Medical School affirms that exercise can be as helpful as drugs that address depression, but when it comes to people with severe mental disorders, exercise should be supplemented with other treatment options. However, including exercise as part of lifestyle is a strong and positive action for a better psychological state, and the quality of life as a whole.
Small Steps, Big Impact: Making Healthy Habits Stick
Well, admit it, it is almost impossible to change your lifestyle all at once.
One has to understand that change is a process and it starts with baby steps. Begin with getting one serving intake of vegetables in your dinner or incorporating 15 minutes of walk. There are also other aspects that can help substantially: planning meals or keeping healthy snacks on hand and having a 5 minute stretch break between work sessions.
As with most things, it’s all about getting a balance that best suits one’s lifestyle and needs. Do not become obsessive and do not try to be flawless – indulge into your favorite foods from time to time. The aim is to build the life that you more than want to live, not a regimen you would rather avoid. The logic here is that small continuous changes made over time are reliable for creating such long term change.
Therefore, instead of maintaining an approach that needs everything to be perfect and could only be ruined by any mistake, let us aim at improvement one step at a time.
Your body and your mind will be grateful to you for it!
Nurturing Your Whole Self
In this article, we have discussed how nutrition and exercise support each other to improve mental health. Ensuring that your body is fed healthy food and that you are active physically are strides towards bettering your mental health. Just bear in mind that even the simplest change will gradually make a difference as long as the alterations are done continuously.
Taking time to take care of the mind is now important. First of all, try to consume more fruits and vegetables together with products containing whole grains. Try to embrace activities you have passion in; for instance, dancing, hiking or yoga. Don’t forget that the idea is not to be perfect, but to improve.
Indeed, it is time to construct a healthier and happier you. Let us know how you are getting on: we are interested in hearing how nutrition and exercise are improving your life.
Please bear in mind that you are worthy of feeling as good as you can. Start your journey today!
