7 Foods to Improve Your Mental Health
We all know how beneficial fresh and healthy foods are to our body, but do we know what food can improve our mental health? Take a look at my seven best tips to help you feed your brain and improve your mental health and well-being.
1. Oily fish
Find DHA in “oily” fish such as salmon or trout. If you don’t like seafood then use a fish oil supplement. DHA is an Omega-3 fatty acid that helps improve both short-term and long-term memory, contributes to optimal brain health and reduce anxiety.
2. Berries
Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries. If you are looking for the perfect snack full of antioxidants, this is it. Antioxidants help repair cells and also fight inflammation, anxiety, depression, improving memory, concentration and attention.
3. Yogurt
Many people benefit from probiotics because they help your digestive system. However, probiotics found in cultures such as yogurt can also impact a person’s mental health, assisting in lowering levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
4. Wholegrain
According to studies, whole grains are a rich source of tryptophan, an amino acid that helps produce serotonin (also known as “mood hormone”). Serotonin helps calm the mind, improves your mood and maintains a stable sleep cycle.
5. Walnuts
Walnuts are full of antioxidants that help prevent oxidation in the brain and body.
6. Leafy greens
People who regularly consume daily servings of leafy greens such as spinach, kale and collard greens have a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to those who avoided piling their plates with greens.
7. Beans
Beans and legumes (such as chickpeas, lentils and kidney beans) satiate you for a long time, maintain a stable blood sugar level and enabling you to burn more energy, which, as we know is essential for good mental health.
EXTRA TIP / THE BEST MENTAL HEALTH APPS:
To maintain a good mental health here are some of my favorite apps.
Good overall: Moodkit
Therapy: Talkspace
Meditation: Headspace
Suicide awareness: Better Stop Suicide
Stress: iBreathe
Anxiety: MindShift CBT
Addiction: Quit That!
Boost your mood: Happify
Eating disorders: Recovery Record
OCD: NOCD
