More then we’d like to admit, food affects our mood.

Sometimes its the food choices that we make, and sometimes its the inherent biochemical profile of the food that derails us. Regardless, learning which foods keep us strong and resilient is key to good mental health.

There is a lot of new science exploring the effects of inflammatory foods on our mental health. We know that many of the commercially produced, genetically created foods that fill our pantry actually cause havoc in our digestive system.

Inflammation, a chemical reaction created by a variety of processed foods, puts our body on alert and creates a war between our immune system and our gut. Since we know that most of the neurotransmitters that we so often talk about in mental health illness is created in the gut, keeping our gut lining is of extreme importance.

Examples of inflammatory foods include:

White breads and pastas
White sugar
Transaturated Fats such as margarine and shortening
Alcohol
Commercial meats such as hot dogs and hamburgers

So if we’re trying to stay away from these foods, what should we eat? Well here is a list of anti-inflammatory foods that keep our gut healthy:

Green leafy vegetables
Fatty Fish like salmon
Nuts like almonds
Tomatoes
Olive Oil
Fruits like strawberries and blueberries

In addition to the right food choices, another aspect of maintaining mental health is keeping our blood sugar levels stable. This includes eating regular meals and not letting yourself too famished.

All in all, maintain good nutrition is paramount to enabling good mental health, for you and for your loved ones.

And if you want to learn more, join us this upcoming Tuesday, July 28th at 1pm on ZOOM for a live interview with our Holistic Nutritionist Carolyn Rostenne. She will be speaking about what to eat when you’re stressed. You really don’t want to miss it.Click here to join live!

And as always, be in touch if you have any questions.

Sincerely, Leah Weisberg, RN BScN BC-NC
Nurse Psychotherapist & Coach
Director of Interprofessional Practice