Mental and emotional health issues can affect your physical health. Something that is becoming more and more emphasized during the process of healing from mental, emotional, and behavioral health concerns is the mind-body connection between nutrition and mental health.
Having an awareness of the effects of nutrition on mental health can guide you as you begin to make choices that fuel your recovery and healing rather than undermine it.
Discovering Which Foods Make You Feel Good
Healthy and balanced nutrition begins with discovering which foods make you feel good and those that do not.
Foods that make you feel good can increase your energy, focus, mood and sustain your hunger. These will often include nutrient-dense, whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, quality protein, and healthy fats.
Start with noticing which food choices in your life give you quality energy, increase your focus, and support your mood. From there, you can try to eat more of those foods and less of the ones that do not have such benefits.
Creating Balanced Meals
Protein bars are suitable for a snack but are not a complete meal. While sometimes a protein bar is all we have access to in a busy day, it is crucial to prioritize creating, consuming, and making time for meals that have a balance of carbs, protein, and fat. This will give you the energy and fuel you require.
Balance Over Restriction
Ultimately, the essence of having good nutrition is about finding balance. Restricting food groups or specific foods because they are not “healthy” according to a diet is not supportive of overall health either. Restriction often leads to wanting the foods you crave even more, which is a biological response to cravings and hunger.
Permit yourself to have that apple with peanut butter and to eat the piece of cake at your friend’s birthday party. Both have an important role to play when developing more empowered, balanced, and healthy nutrition choices that benefit your mental well-being.
Improving how you feel mentally is often correlated with making different nutritional choices. Working on your physical health is just as important as your mental health when recovering from mental and emotional health concerns. At Avalon Malibu, we recognize the connection between physical and mental health and support you in understanding this relationship for yourself in the treatment services we offer. Whether your goal is to experience relief from anxiety, depression, trauma, or other disorders, we are here to help. To learn more, call us today at (844) 857-5992.
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