Does Nutrition Affect Your Mental Health

It’s not just our physical health that depends on a balanced diet, research has also shown that what we put into our bodies also impacts our mental health. Poor nutrition can cause low mood and therefore negatively affect our mental health, here are a few ways to use food to improve your mood!

Gut Health:

Did you know that up to 95% of serotonin in the body can be located in the gut? Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep, appetite, pain, and mood. The gut and its microbes also control inflammation and make many different compounds that can affect brain health. This means that it is so important to consider what you are putting into your gut, and think about the negative effects it might have on your mood. Our Super Smoothies Gut Health BerriesGut Health Greens contain around 1 billion live and active bacteria Bacillus Coagulans to support the gut. They’re also high in fibre, vitamins and potassium!

Stay Hydrated:

If you don’t drink enough fluid, you may find it difficult to concentrate or think clearly. It’s recommended that you drink between 6–8 glasses of fluid a day to stay hydrated.

Get Your 5 a Day:

Vegetables and fruit contain a lot of the minerals, vitamins and fibre we need to keep our physical and mental health in check. Eating a varied amount of different coloured fruits and vegetables is key as you’ll be getting a good range of nutrients! As a general rule, one portion is about a handful, small bowl or a 250ml bottle of one of our cold-pressed juices! For ideas on how to get your 5 a day, visit NHS Choices.

Manage Your Caffeine Intake:

Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it will give you a quick burst of energy, but then may make you feel anxious and depressed and may disturb your sleep. If you drink tea, coffee or cola, try switching to decaffeinated versions or you might feel noticeably better quite quickly if you avoid it altogether. Our Turmeric Boost shot is packed with Vitamin B12 for a no caffeine energy boost, check it out!

Eating the Right Fats:

While fats are often perceived to be ‘bad’ in terms of nutrition, there are actually different kinds of fats, and not all of them are bad for us. Fatty acids are essential for effective brain function. Healthy fats are found in oily fish, poultry, nuts, olive and sunflower oils, seeds, avocados (which can be found in our Gut Health Greens smoothie!), milk, yoghurt, cheese and eggs. Our Turmeric Super Shots contain flax oil which contains healthy fats, it also helps to ensure the curcumin is absorbed more efficiently into the bloodstream.

Feeling positive is often about balance. Diet, exercise, sleep, and a positive outlook are all key elements to improving mood! For more information about healthy eating and how food can affect your mood, visit the British Dietetic Association website to read their range of food fact sheets.

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