Benefits of Diet & Physical Activity
on Mental Health in College Student
Benefits of Nutrition on Mental Health
Nutrition and diet has an important impact on mental health. Studies on cognitive development and disease prevention is an emerging field and are focused in areas like nutritional psychiatry. Proper nutrition is essential when considering optimal mental and cognitive health.
Depression and Nutrition
There has been some evidence that links depression and nutrition. According to mhanational.org, there are certain nutrients that may help combat depression. These include vitamin B-12, folate, and omega-3 fatty acids.
How Nutrition is Important to Mental Health
Besides physical activity, Nutrition has always played a big part in mental health. Foods like Carbohydrates, Proteins, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, fats and sugars are great resources for food. Small ingredients such as vitamins are really healthy for the body and even for your mental health. Vitamin D is even more important for brain power which has serious links to mental health. “The digestion and absorption of basic nutrients, such as fats, carbohydrates and proteins, and the bioavailability and stability of specific nutrients, such as vitamins, flavonoids, as nutraceuticals and functional food components” (Fenyvesi, 2016). If you’re working out but not eating the proper food, it will honestly show. Eating the proper and being able to workout is the best way to stay healthy. Eating too much fast food can be detrimental to your health and even mental health. Those types of foods such as McDonalds and wendys aren't giving you the proper nutrients that you need.You have better luck eating foods such as Pasta, Chicken, Vegetables, even salad. That’s why there is a food pyramid for humans. You need a certain percentage for the different types of food such as Carbs and proteins and dairy products. It’s very essential that we are mindful of the things that we are eating on a daily basis.
How does food make you feel?
It is suggested to pay close attention to how certain foods make you feel. Not only how they make you feel while eating but also being mindful on how they make you feel multiple days after. You can do this by keeping track of what you eat, cutting foods out, and slowly introducing them back in to your diet. More information? Click the link to the video below.