I think you guessed that your gut and your mood are interconnected. "You are what you eat" is not just a catchphrase. Our mood directly depends on our nutrition, so you must select food very carefully.
Sometimes in our lives, misery strikes. Our optimism leaves us, and we slowly (or suddenly) slip into a state of apathy, irritation, or even anxiety. This might be due to the season, like autumn and winter, when we lack UV-rays that boost vitamin D synthesis in our bodies. There might be stressful situations at work or home or even the dysfunction of serotonin production in the brain.
Get your 100% personalized meal plan by completing our 3-min quiz
None of the known diets should be followed without considering your unique body needs, preferences, and goals
Start QuizDid you know that certain foods can help us deal with a bad mood and prevent depression development? We're not talking about munching ice cream when you feel upset or gorging on chocolate when your romantic date went wrong. Comfort food and emotional eating might help for an hour or two, but it’s not the way out. This is why we will refer to foods that boost your mood and leave you feeling cheerful and happy for longer than the digestion process.
Leafy greens, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and veggies are not only full of microelements and vitamins but also calm down your nerves. Studies1 show that magnesium supplements can help with mild anxiety and battle premenstrual syndrome in women. Though additional surveys should be conducted to ensure that magnesium is efficient in dealing with hypertension, its beneficial effect on anxiety and stress is proven by scientific research.
Researchers2 have found that reduced zinc levels are associated with higher risks of depression and anxiety. Though additional cohort studies should be conducted to prove this connection, you can safely try this theory by yourself by increasing zinc-reach products in your diet. Oysters, cashews, liver, beef, and egg yolks are rich in zinc and might reduce anxiety.
Multiple studies5 show a connection between vitamin B consumption and the levels of depression and anxiety. Fatty products rich in B group vitamins, like avocado and almonds, are also a great way to manage tension and nervousness.
Omega 3 fatty acid might help with some particular cognitive and emotional disorders, particularly with anxiety. Studies3 show, though, that to get statistically meaningful results, large dosages of omega 3 supplements were used on the subjects. As the brain membranes consist of fatty acids, adding more products rich in omega-3 to your diet might be a great way to prevent brain health disorders. Found in most oily fishes, such as wild salmon, omega-3 fatty acids might help reduce anxiety.
There was a meta-analysis4 of randomized controlled trials that has shown that even though there might be no significant difference in anxiety levels in groups taking probiotics and placebo, probiotic-rich foods can lower the levels of anxiety and depression in cases of acute mental disorders. Probiotics are beneficial for the gut microbiome and digestive system, not only for your mental health. For this reason, it might be a good idea to add some pickled vegetables like Korean kimchi, Polish fermented cabbage, German sauerkraut, and fermented lactic products like yogurts or kefir to your diet.
As distress and psychological discomfort is often caused by oxidative stress, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has composed6 a list of products rich in antioxidants that help minimize oxidations in our bodies.
Food is not only calories and macronutrients. Minimally processed, whole foods are also rich in vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients essential for your physical and mental health. For example, they can help you deal with stress and anxiety.
When you order a personalized meal plan composed by our nutrition experts, you receive much more than a weight-loss tool. Every program we provide contains foods that are rich in vitamins and microelements that improve both your physical and mental health. Enjoy your food and let it be your cure!
Sources:
By choosing high-quality sources, we make sure that all articles on the Unimeal blog are reliable and trustworthy