The foods you eat not only help your body physically but also mentally. Which means, the ingredients present in your food items not only make the body function properly but also help the mind perform its roles adequately. Mental health is as important as physical health but most of us don’t get it right. So, even though we eat to keep the body fit, our attention hardly shifts to our mind.
There are certain foods and nutrients that can keep any sign of anxiety and depression away, that can keep you feeling good at mind and so on. You can find different foods that lift the mood and keep you in good mental health. Keeping all this in mind, you should start caring for your mind and choose the foods or ingredients or nutrients that are good for your mind.
Here are some of the foods that can help you improve your mental health –
- Lentils
If mental health is your concern, you should be eating more of lentils on a regular basis. They are packed with B vitamin folate required in the body to produce happy hormone serotonin (brain transmitter). More importantly, lentils are the type of foods low on the glycaemic index, and such food doesn’t allow the blood sugar to rise at an abnormal or fast speed.
With lentils in your regular diet, it becomes possible to regulate blood sugar levels and this is how your mood is not allowed to swing that often. This food not only ensures an adequate amount of energy but also helps with the production of serotonin. That’s why doctors want you to enrich your diet with lentils and improve your mental health easily.
- Bananas
Eat more of bananas in all season if you want to improve your mental health. They are a wonderful fruit packed with mood-enhancing properties and known to help in the production of serotonin, the happy hormone. The nutrients and amino acid (tryptophan) present in bananas helps with sleep and control our food intake. When both these aspects are taken care of, our mood will be positively impacted for sure.
More importantly, bananas are rich in several other key nutrients, vitamins and minerals like potassium, vitamin B6 and fiber considered good for the mind. They collectively help in the production of serotonin which keeps our mood happy. Since these fruits are easily available year-round, you should eat them often to keep your mental health drastically improved.
- Sweet potato
Doctors always recommend eating sweet potatoes more often to keep your mind healthy. They are a rich source of antioxidant beta-carotene responsible for minimizing damage to the brain cells. And when there is less damage to your brain cells, it can surely have a positive effect on your mental health. With healthy brain cells, your mind too will be in good health.
Several studies have confirmed that people who eat sweet potatoes regularly are less prone to the risks of depression and anxiety. Some research has also established how this food item can help minimize the risk of schizophrenia by minimizing the oxidative stress on DNA. With so much to gain from sweet potatoes, it would be a surprise if they did not feature in your regular diet.
- Leafy greens
We all have grown hearing how leafy greens are good for the body. You should now also know that they are also good for mental health. Several studies have confirmed how regular consumption of leafy greens can help keep your mental health in the prime state. They are also associated with preventing the gradual decline of cognitive abilities in human.
More so, leafy greens like kale, spinach, and collard greens are not only good for the body but also for the mind due to the nutrients and minerals they contain. If you consume them regularly, your cognition ability is likely to stay better even with advancing ages. So, don’t risk your mind and eat more of leafy greens to improve the mental health.
5. Beans
The beans you eat regularly are not only good for the body but also for your mind as well. They are one of the best food choices for a healthy and happy brain, and several studies have confirmed this. Beans are full of fiber and antioxidants and they are known to keeping the blood sugar stable, which leads to a better mental health.
Beans also keep us fuller for longer and help burn more energy thereby helping enhance mood and keep the mind healthy. They also contain thiamine which is considered good for the memory. You can clearly see advantages of eating beans regularly for your mental health.
Author Bio: Tanya is a health blogger with a keen interest in sharing information related to dental and mental health. His blog posts can help you understand problems related to your teeth and gums and find the right treatment for them. You can refer his posts and easily find the best dental hospital in Hyderabad for quality dental treatment.
