eat good to feel good

We all know intellectually that eating well plays a huge role in keeping us fit and healthy, both physically and mentally. But a majority of us fail to stick to a healthy diet and as an outcome end up suffering because of our impulses and lapses of judgment. 

To put it simply, we are what we eat. What we put in our piehole can significantly impact our mental health. Both unhealthy food and depression are interlinked. Studies have shown that not only people who have depression tend to eat less healthy food, but an unhealthy diet can also raise an individual’s risk for depression. The more you eat sugary, fatty and processed food, the higher is your risk of developing depression.

A recent study investigated 76 college students with symptoms of depression. At the time the study began, all of the participants ate an unhealthy diet. Researchers encouraged half of the students to improve their diets and provided them instructions to focus on eating healthier foods like fruits, veggies and good fats. The other participants continued with the same unhealthy diet. At the end of three weeks, those who had made positive changes in their diets reported feeling better, whereas those who didn’t make any changes still had symptoms of depression.

If we choose, we can all improve our moods and combat depression through our diets. What keeps our belly happy, keeps our brain happy too. When we focus on eating a healthy and balanced diet, we provide better fuel for body, enhancing our health and happiness. 

To better optimize this mind-belly connection, we must eat a good amount of fruits, veggies, beans, legumes and healthy fats from olive oil and nuts. At the same time, it’s best to stay away from processed foods, junk food, added sugar, and saturated fats. Just taking these simple steps will go a long way in helping us be all smiles and feeling good day in and day out.