How to stay positive: eating habits that will help your mental health

Take care about your brain!

How to stay positive: eating habits that will help your mental health
Written by Our: Morning Runner
Medical Fact Checked by: Dr. Bryan Havoc
Last updated:

The brain, as every other organ, is fed by what you eat. Your nutrition decisions are important and have influence on your health and cognitive abilities. More and more often, researchers are studying the connection between the consumed products and mental condition as well as susceptibility to depressive disorders.

Even the smallest decision related to nutrition can visibly improve emotional state, mood and concentration.

Positive mood, good relations with other people, successes in private life and career are dependent on how does your nervous system function.

I’m sure that you’re aware of the fact that you should avoid processed food, but do you know what to eat to make your nervous system strong and immune to the risks of everyday life and duties?

Below will you find a crib sheet about what you should eat to feed your brain:

  • complex carbohydrates (can be found in plant foods) have influence on mood improvement, reduction of apathy and depression
  • honey - regenerates mental strenght,
  • ginseng - is an antidepressant,
  • selenium (can be found in barley, mushrooms, broccoli, cabbage, seafood and brazil nuts) - increases resistance to stress,
  • magnesium (can be found in dark chocolate, sesame and almonds) improves memory, has a positive effect on the nervous system,
  • omega-3 acids (can be found in fish) take part in the process of activating the secretion of melatonin, which regulates biological processes and sleep,
  • iron (can be found in a nettle juice and in red meat) will keep your nerves under control, improve concentration and will deliver you energy supply so you’ll forget about tiredness,
  • proteins (can be found in fish, veal, poultry, legumes) improve memory, increase positive energy level.

Remember that the main component necessary for brain work is glucose. If you’ll eat regularly, you’ll keep constant concentration of glucose in blood and that will allow your brain work properly.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.