Have you ever wondered why you feel strong and confident after a digestive system cleanse or, conversely, why you feel down after gorging on junk foods once in a while? If you’ve noticed a connection between your eating habits and your general mood and welfare, you’re on to something.
The foods you eat affect not only your physical health but can have a serious impact on your mental health and emotions as well.
This is especially true if you regularly eat a poor diet containing unhealthy foods that can negatively impact your balance of gut flora.
If you’re wondering why this is the case and what you can do to lift your mood via your diet, keep reading for some key insights.
Healthy eating habits, like the Mediterranean diet, are linked to improved mental wellbeing than “unhealthy” habits, like the Western diet.
Food and mood interactions may be influenced by the impact of various foods or dietary patterns on glycemia, immunological activation, and the gut flora.
ALSO READ: 7 Health Tips To Beat Mental Stress & Improve Mood
Can Certain Foods Affect Our Mood?
If you’ve ever gone on fried food, processed food, or junk food binge and then needed to go on a cleanse for bloating soon after, you may have noticed that there are specific types of foods that can lead to significant drops in your mood. Particularly, you may want to stay away from:
- Food high in saturated fat
- Food containing high sugar
- Excessively processed junk foods
- Refined grains, such as white bread, a few types of pasta, and rice
The Mind-Body Connection
If you’ve been reading about essential vitamins and silica benefits recently, you may be interested to learn more about the connection between your mind and your body. When you eat well, you provide your body with the nutrients it needs to work at its best. Some healthy foods to incorporate into your meals include:
- Omega 3-rich foods such as sardines and wild salmon
- Leafy greens, including arugula, spinach, watercress, and kale
- Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower
- Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, such as berries and avocados
- Lean sources of protein, including free-range chicken, mussels, beans, and nuts
- Fermented foods, including sauerkraut, kimchi, natto, and kombucha
In short, there are several reasons why your diet may be leading to a less-than-ideal everyday mood. Some top possibilities include the following:
- You’re not getting enough vitamins and minerals and are suffering due to nutritional deficiencies.
- You’re taking in too many calories and feeling sluggish due to the increased digestion time.
- You’re overconsuming one particular type of nutrient, leading to imbalances.
- Your poor diet is leading to other poor self-care habits that can negatively impact your mood.
- Your low level of healthy gut flora is leading to exacerbated anxiety or depression symptoms.
The Bottom Line:
Your eating habits can have wide-reaching impacts, from your physical health to your everyday mood and more. Although this means you may want to avoid certain foods or habits for ideal health, the good news is that you can easily lift your mood by adopting healthier eating habits.
From omega-3 rich foods to antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies, there are plenty of delicious and nutritious options you could work into your everyday diet. Now that you understand the mind-body connection, you can adopt the best eating habits for a sunny daily mood.
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