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The relationship between gut health and mental health is real.
It is common knowledge that your brain or body won’t perform at its peak level without a healthy, well-balanced diet. But sometimes we don’t realise that what we consume has an effect on our mental and emotional wellbeing too.
For example, think about how you feel after a big night out when the hangover hits. According to research by Drink Aware, regular and heavy drinking interferes with chemicals in the brain that is vital for balanced mental health. In the long run, excessive drinking can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety and make stress harder to deal with.
According to the team at Herbal Life, research has found that the gastrointestinal tract works alongside the brain and can contribute to your mood and mental health, and vice versa. This means that anxiety, stress, or depression can trigger an upset stomach and gut issues can cause these negative emotions too. To help you find the balance and start eating with mental wellbeing in mind, they have shared a list of mood-boosting foods. Check them out below.
Foods with mood-boosting nutrients:
2.Protein is a critical part of the processes that fuel your energy and carry oxygen throughout your body in your blood, so including lean protein in your daily diet is key. Try fish, meat, chicken, eggs, nuts, seeds and soybeans.
3.Fatty acids help assist your brain and nervous system. Flaxseeds, meat, fish, and eggs are all packed with fatty acids.
4.Healthy fats, such as avocado as well as coconut and olive oils, also support healthy brain function.
Happy tummy, healthy mind.