Making Healthy Choices may help improve your mental health
There are lots of reasons to make healthy life choices; such as disease prevention, increased longevity, the ability to be active as you age, or even improved appearance. But have you considered how your daily choices may be affecting the way that you feel?
Your physical and health and mental healthy are connected and making healthy lifestyle decisions may help your overall out look on life.
Eat more whole foods
“Nutrition actually influences the structure and the functioning of our brain cells.” Alan Logan, author of the the Brain Diet. “We now know that the foods you eat directly influence communication within the brain.”
Try to cut back on processed snacks and eat whole foods instead. Fatty acids from fish have been known to improve cell function, and the fatty acids from olive oil are thought to help the mood-regulating chemical serotonin bind to it’s receptors.
Get more sleep
People with insomnia produce higher rates of stress hormones than others. Lack of sleep can depression. Try going to bed 30 minutes earlier than normal for a week or so and see how the extra sleep affects your mood. Also, stay away from alcohol before bed. You may think it helps you fall asleep, but it actually detracts from your REM sleep which is the most important.
Spend more time outdoors
Spend time in nature or exercise outdoors. Studies have shown people who are able to exercise outside actually have lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, than those in urban areas.
Workout
Exercise may help reduce anxiety and improve mood. When you workout, your brain releases endorphins which are feel-good chemicals. Exercise also helps build your confidence and distracts you from your daily stress.
