The Impact of Dietary Habits on Our Mental Health

It seems to me that we have never been talking more about the importance of eating healthy and having a balanced diet. People are increasingly becoming aware of the significance of this, and most are doing everything they can to keep their bodies healthy. And, while that is commendable, there seems to be something we are all either ignoring, or still completely unaware of when it comes to the food we are eating.

To cut right to the chase, we fail to take into account the fact that it also affects our mental health. Because, it most definitely does. And no, I am not saying that you can completely get rid of certain disorders through eating the right foods, and that you can cure, say, your depression, with the right ingredients, because I certainly don’t believe that to be possible. What I do think is that what we are eating absolutely has an impact on our psychological wellbeing. Go here to read some more about it.

While you may have heard of that already, chances are that you are not quite sure about the link between the ingredients we are consuming and our mental health. So, you have quite some questions on your mind. The main one being – how are these two things linked together?

And, well, that is precisely what we are going to be discussing right now. Keep on reading, thus, to get a better idea about how all of this works. And to understand what you have to keep in mind when trying to build good dietary habits that will promote your mental health, instead of affecting it negatively. Without any more ado, thus, let’s start talking about this.

Nutrient Deficiencies Disrupt Brain Chemistry

Let us begin with the very basics here. Our entire body, including the brain, needs certain nutrients in order to be able to function properly. So, when the key vitamins and minerals are missing from your diet, that can surely disrupt your brain chemistry. This can affect your mood, or even contribute to some other mental health problems, such as anxiety, which is why you should do your best to create a balanced meal plan and eat the foods that will equip your brain with all the necessary nutrients, including magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin D, vitamins B, as well as omega-3 fatty acids.

This Can Lead to Your Medication Not Working Well

Now, you may think that taking certain medications can actually help resolve that disruption in your brain chemistry, and that is correct. Yet, as you can see if you visit this mental health blog, some foods can actually lead to your medication not working well. We are, of course, talking about ultra-processed foods, which can undeniably cause a lot of troubles to your physical and psychological health, and which can, among other things, prevent your SSRIs, for instance, or other medications, from working the way they should. So, there is another reason for you to build good dietary habits, focused on consuming the necessary nutrients, and reducing ultra-processed foods.

Your Gut and Your Brain Are Connected

You’ve probably heard this by now, but I still have to mention it, because it is undeniably important for the topic we’re discussing here. Basically, your gut and your brain are connected, meaning that your gut health can affect your mental health. After all, I suppose you know that scientists are often referring to the gut as the “second brain”, and there is a reason for it.

To put it simply, your digestive system and your central nervous system are in constant, two-way communication. Plus, the gut is where some important neurotransmitters are created, and it is actually responsible for the production of around 95% of your body’s serotonin. So, if your gut microbe is out of balance, which can happen due to poor dietary habits, that can affect serotonin levels and ultimately contribute to problems such as anxiety, irritability, depression, and similar.

Dehydration Can Lead to Certain Problems

When talking about dietary habits, we cannot fail to mention the importance of proper hydration as well. Of drinking water, to put it simply. Relying too much on caffeinated drinks, sodas, alcohol and similar beverages can undoubtedly lead to dehydration. And, dehydration can cause fatigue, irritability, as well as confusion. So, add water to your routine, and consume those other beverages in moderation.

Here’s more on the link between food and mental health: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6170050/

Emotional Eating Is a Thing

Apart from everything we have talked about above, we cannot fail to mention that emotional eating is, without a doubt, a thing. This means that our food choices are often driven by emotions, instead of hunger. Becoming aware of this is important, as that will help you recognize those emotional triggers and avoid them, so that you can replace emotional eating with healthier coping mechanisms, and thus do something good for your mental wellbeing, and your overall health for that matter.