By John Hunt
Food calendar_today 30 August 2020 whatshot 209 Views

Your Food is Affecting your Mindset. Here’s How!

You might not know but there is a close relationship between the food and your mood. The diet that you consume can trigger your emotions in multiple ways. This is no false talk as it is backed by scientific evidence. Your brain and the gastrointestinal tract (also known as the second brain) are closely related to each other. 

The GI tract present in the thorax region of your body is home to millions of bacteria and are huge influencers in the production of neurotransmitters. These chemical substances carry messages from your gut to the brain. (Serotonin and Dopamine are two prime examples of it). 

In simple terms, the working of your digestive system is one of the major factors that guide emotions in human beings. Therefore, it is essential to feed such food to our stomach that it can handle effortlessly and produce more efficient results. 

The production of the neurotransmitters is positively affected when we eat healthy food as opposed to junk food. Healthy food reduces the stomach’s work and produces neurotransmitters smoothly that makes our brain receive positive messages and create pleasant emotions.  

On the contrary, junk food may cause inflammation and hamper the production of the transmitters, which in turn makes our mood nasty. 

What Foods to Eat for a Positive Mindset?

The functioning of our brain hugely enhances eating a balanced and nutritious diet. Foods that are rich in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, help in the nourishment of your brain. Besides, it also protects the mind from oxidative stress. Here is the list of some items that must be included in your daily diet to experience improved energy levels.

  • Whole Foods 

Food items that are minimally processed and consist of healthy ingredients can provide better mental health. Therefore, make it a habit to include high amounts of fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet chart. 

  • Antioxidants

Antioxidants can help reduce inflammation and are highly beneficial for our bodies. Eating antioxidant-rich foods can create healthy mental conditions. You can find antioxidants in leafy green vegetables, salmon, turmeric, black chia seeds, and dark chocolates.  

  • Fibre 

Foods generated from plants consist of high amounts of fibre and can help absorb glucose from the body. You can eat foods such as carrots, broccoli, sweet corn beans, peas, berries, pulses, melon, pears, oranges, etc. consisting of high amounts of fibres. 

  • Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a necessary nutrient that can promote positive mental health. Vitamin D produces serotonin in the body that helps regulate sleep and appetite and inhibit pain. You can get plenty of Vitamin D from sunlight and mushrooms. 

Tips for Improved Mood and Healthier Gut 

Eating healthy food items will induce more neurotransmitters in your brain, and you will feel a positive change in your mind.  Follow the below-given tips for a healthy mindset:  

  • Reduce the sugar intake in your breakfast. You can do that by adding cinnamon to your oatmeal or plain yoghurt. 
  • Eat a balanced seafood diet and also reduce your red meat consumption by half. 
  • Consume fresh fruits and vegetables instead of having them in preservative forms such as juices. 
  • A healthy gut can be maintained by adding fermented foods to your diet. It includes foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, or kefir. 
  • Make sure to consume plenty of fibre-rich foods.  
  • Slow down your coffee consumption. 

Wrapping Up

Amongst many other things, food is one of the significant factors that influence our mental health and well being. To ensure a happy and pleasant mood, you must take care of the food that you eat. It may take some time for you to implement the changes in your diet. Doing so will definitely be a major mood booster and a blessing for your life.