"To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong." -Buddha
Can food and drink affect how I feel?
Dietary Outlines Related to Better Mental Health
Studies show that certain dietary outlines may help cut signs of depression, stress, and mood in general. Let’s explicate.
1. For depression: The Mediterranean diet
In the last few years, quite a few studies have noticed the relationship between gut health, dietary patterns, and the risk of depression.
Looking to follow a Mediterranean diet? Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and dairy products and limit your intake of fried foods, sweetened beverages, baked goods, processed meats etc.
Keep in mind that deciding on an eating outline rooted in the principles of the Mediterranean diet doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your cultural foods.
2. For anxiety and stress: Restrict intake of alcohol, caffeine, and sugary foods
3. For mental well-being: A nutrient-dense food regime
Support your mental health through diet:
Foods that lift your mood
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Walnuts, salmon, herring, chia and flaxseeds, sardines
- Folate: Rice, fortified cereals, brussels sprouts, spinach, beef liver,black-eyed peas, asparagus
- Iron: Spinach, beef liver, fortified cereals, oysters, dark chocolate, white beans, lentils, tofu
- Magnesium: Pumpkin and chia seeds, spinach, soy milk, almonds, black beans, cashews, peanuts
- Zinc: Oysters, chicken, beef roast, Alaska king crab, pork chops, lobster, pumpkin seeds
- B vitamins: Beef liver, chicken breast, tuna, salmon, clams, chickpeas, potatoes, bananas
- Vitamin A: Herring, cow’s milk, beef liver, ricotta cheese, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes
- Vitamin C: Orange and grapefruit juice, red and green peppers, strawberries, broccoli
Pack in prebiotics and probiotics
A list of foods that contain prebiotics or probiotics:
- Fermented foods: kefir, yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, buttermilk, sauerkraut, tempeh
- Alliums: onions, garlic, leeks
- Vegetables: asparagus and artichokes
- Fruits: apples and bananas
- Grains: oats and barley
Fuel up with whole grains
Foods and habits that may harm your mental health
- Ultra-processed foods
- Alcohol consumption
- Insufficient sleep
- Irregular mealtimes
Dietary changes to support mental health
- Eat mindfully
- Go easy on yourself
- Start small
Some suggestions of healthy food swaps are:
- Whole foods rather than packaged and processed foods
- Whole grains in place of refined grains
- Whole fruits in preference to dried fruits and juices
- Seafood or lean poultry instead of red and processed meats
- Fermented dairy as an alternative to sweetened dairy
- Fruit-infused waters instead of soda
- Kombucha or herbal tea instead of alcohol
- Herbs and spices instead of sugar and salt






