Holistic Habits To Adopt To Support Mental Health
By Megan Roosevelt, RDN & Founder of HealthyGroceryGirl.com
By Megan Roosevelt, RDN & Founder of HealthyGroceryGirl.com
Happy January, it’s National Mental Wellness Month! Two popular New Year resolutions are to eat better and exercise more. These two health pillars are incredibly important and play a significant role in our emotional and mental health! In fact, studies have shown that the body can hold on to grief, trauma, and pain. When left unresolved, these difficult moments in our life can manifest in physical and emotional ways from anxiety, depression, gut health, skin conditions, and beyond. It’s so important that we take time to care for our mental health and one way we can do that is through the foods we eat along with the foods we limit or avoid! By also engaging in healthy habits such as movement and connection, we can help our body process and work through life’s challenges. Keep reading to learn more!
Nutrition Tips To Support Mental Wellness:
Foods To Eat
Nutrition plays a huge role in overall health, including our mental health. The foods that we eat can support specific hormones that our brain produces. Food can also help reduce the risk of certain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and even help us maintain our energy levels and eliminate brain fog. Here are some foods to eat and avoid to support your mental health.
Foods To Avoid
More Holistic Tips To Support Mental Wellness:
Why Your Brain Needs Electrolytes
Electrolytes have many functions in the body, including regulating fluid balance in the brain. Proper electrolyte balance is also important for nerve signaling, which leads to things such as muscle contractions. Electrolytes can become imbalanced due to strenuous exercise, hot temperatures, sickness, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Many electrolytes are high in added sugars or artificial sugars that can be disruptive to a healthy gut microbiome. One way to replenish your electrolytes and support brain health is through a quality, natural electrolyte mix such as Purecane’s No Calorie Electrolyte Immune System Drink Mix. This mix is sugar-free, zero-calorie, and contains 30x more electrolytes than water! It tastes delicious and is free from artificial ingredients.
The Power of Movement For Mental Health
Movement has been shown to protect against certain anxiety disorders! It also releases anti-anxiety neurochemicals such as serotonin, which can help with mood. Exercise can lower your muscle tension and help with the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut, which directly affects the brain!
Mindfulness, Meditation & Self-Care
Life can be stressful, and it can be easy to forget to take time to rest and care for yourself. Overextending can lead to burnout and chronic problems such as depression, headaches, and high blood pressure. Engaging in mindfulness and meditation practices can help reduce anxiety, recover from stressful situations, and allow yourself time to recharge. One way to incorporate a mindfulness practice is to add it to another healthy habit you already do. For example, while taking a shower you can practice deep breathing or while brushing your teeth you can focus on relaxing the rest of your body, clothing your eyes and focus on a positive mantra or something you are grateful for!
Healthy Community & Connection
Social connection through a healthy community has been linked with many positive mental health benefits including lowering anxiety, working through emotions and lowering depression. Call a friend, go on a hike or spend time in nature with someone that brings you joy!