ISSUE 3 JUNE 2021
Best and Worst Foods for Your Mental Health and Wellness COVID-19 HAS BROUGHT ISSUES SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING TO THE FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE. Regardless of where you may currently find yourself on the mental health and wellness spectrum, diet plays an important role in mental well-being. A healthy and well-balanced diet can do wonders in improving mental health along with key activities such as proper sleep and exercise. Let’s take a look at some of the best foods for better mental health and wellness – plus a few not-so-healthy choices to scrap from your diet. Colourful fruits and vegetables Many fruits and vegetables contain what’s known as ‘complex carbohydrates’, which are great for brain health. By releasing energy into our bodies slowly, complex carbohydrates found in fruit and vegetables can improve our mood over time.
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Many coloured fruits and vegetables also contain antioxidants and vitamins which help us deal with stress. So if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or are going through a rough time, upping your fruit and vegetable intake could help you feel better. Think leafy greens like kale and spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, pineapples, pawpaw and bananas. Fruit and vegetables are great for healthy snacks, or in salads, soups, stews and sandwiches. Wholegrains Wholegrains are high in fibre and really good for you! These include things like corn, brown rice, quinoa, oats, rye and barley. Wholegrains contain a type of amino acid that makes your body produce ‘serotonin’ – also known as the “happy chemical”! Serotonin helps calm the mind, improve your mood, and keep your sleep cycle on track – all of which help maintain a good headspace. If you’re feeling down or low on energy, eating some brown rice, corn, or quinoa can help release more of the happy chemical into your body. You could even start your day off with a healthy bowl of oats for a wholegrain booster.
