Our diet has a direct impact on our mental health and our mental health has a direct impact on our digestive function. Think of it as two way traffic ⬆️⬇️
Our traditional hunter gatherer lifestyle was perfectly balanced to generate optimal physical and mental health.
Currently, thanks to our modern lifestyle, 43% of us suffer regular gut issues and 1 in 6 of us are suffering from mental illness.
the closest thing we have to our original diet nowadays is the Mediterranean diet. A rich variety of fish, vegetables, seeds, nuts, pulses and fruit improve, not just our physical health, but our neurological transmitters (Those chemicals that boost our sense of well-being and other brain function such as memory).
High fat, high sugar, processed food actually cause problems for our physical health, our digestive system and our brain function.
Our brains 🧠 are 60% fat! Who knew!? As a result we must consume high quality fats found in fish. We cannot produce omega 3 or omega 6 so we must get those from our diet, which is why food such as fish is so important. Stress actually reduces our omega 3 absorption so reducing stress is vital to maintain a healthy brain as well as a healthy body. For optimal brain performance omega 3 and omega 6 must be consumed in equal measure. (These can be supplemented for vegans/vegetarians)
The effect of our diet on our brain health doesn’t stop there! Folic Acid (found in greens, many fruits, eggs and legumes) actually increase the release of chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. A lack of folic acid has been linked to depression!
Other important vitamins include B12, B6, Vitamin D and Magnesium.
I appreciate that healthy eating can sometimes be challenging and confusing so my simple advise is to Eat the Rainbow🌈 . The more varied your diet (Think hunter gatherer) the better your brain function and thus your mental and physical health.
And finally. Listen to your gut, it knows more about your emotional state than you probably realise. You really can Eat Yourself Happy.
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