So much emphasis is put on food as something that we should limit, track and treat with apprehension, especially when it comes to our physical and mental health. However, what is also useful to remember is that our bodies and minds need nutrition to function well. Indeed, there are even some foods that can help nourish and boost our mental health. Keep reading to find out what they are.
Berries
Who doesn’t like to eat some delicious berries on a hot summer’s day? Whether you choose that UK summer classic, strawberries, or another kind, you can be safe in the knowledge that not only are you getting a delicious treat, but you are also boosting your mental health.
This is because those tiny little berries are packed full of helpful things including polyphenols which can be great for attention, focus, and memory. Berries also contain large amounts of antioxidants too which help to keep our bodies and mind functioning most efficiently.
Milk
Now you may be surprised at this one because there is a lot of noise online around giving up dairy products. However, they may be a great help when it comes to mental wellness. This is because milk is full of vital nutrients and has been shown to boost memory and other brain functions in scientific tests.
With that in mind, why not treat yourself to some milk drinks from time to time? You could even mix things up by adding fruit and creating a yummy milkshake or smoothie. Therefore befitting both from the milk and the fruit you use!
Wholegrains
If you are looking for ways to raise the levels of the happy hormone serotonin in your system, then eating whole grains can help. The reason for this is that food items like wholemeal bread, flour, and pasta all contain tryptophan, which is an essential building block the body uses to create serotonin.
Indeed, serotonin isn’t just good for making us feel happy, but can help with other aspects of mental wellness too, including better sleep, and making us feel more alert.
Leafy greens
There is real wisdom in the advice to ‘eat our greens’ our mothers passed down to us when we were children. Indeed, leafy greens in particular are linked to better mental function well into later life.
The greener the better when it comes to leafy veggies so be sure to work cabbage, kale, spinach, and some yummy collard greens into your diet regularly. You can even find some smart recipes that will help you do this here.
Beans
Surely the humble bean couldn’t affect our mental health? Well, the truth is that it really could be because beans are jammed full of good nutrients including that all-important fibre, thiamine, and helpful antioxidants.
Of course, fibre is the stuff that you need to keep you feeling fuller for longer, and to keep you regular so your body can flush out waste. Antioxidants on the other hand are good at tracking down and disposing of free radicals which can damage and age our system. And thiamine is needed for a good memory!