The Connection Between Physical and Mental Health

Many of us seriously underrate how strongly our body affects our state-of-mind. We don’t realize how strongly poor diet, lack of sleep, and too little exercise can affect our emotional and mental health. Better Nutrition Can Alleviate Depression and Anxiety Over the past decade, interest in how diet affects mental health has grown considerably. Large studies have found that habitual consumption of an unhealthy diet (defined as high in processed foods) is associated with increased risk of depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents.1 A study employing a “diet intervention” in which participants were given food hampers filled with vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fish oil supplements as well as a cooking workshop, found an improvement in depression symptoms after three months. The effects were shown to hold over time with sustained improvements found at a six-month follow-up evaluation. Exercise Can Profoundly Affect Mood and Improve Memory The effects of regular exercise on the brain are profound and almost immediate. Changes in mood are so quick you can try it yourself (after talking to your doctor about beginning an exercise program!) and see how you improve. Over time, the beneficial effects of exercise can be found for mood, attention, and memory. Researchers believe that exercise directly affects thinking and memory by reducing insulin resistance and inflammation as well as encouraging the production of new...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Anxiety Depression Exercise General Habits Healthy Living Sleep Source Type: news