Foods for mental health wellness are important to know when building and promoting your mental health. When working to build mental health wellness, each area of your life needs to be incorporated into the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, including diet. This means it’s important to eat the right foods for mental health wellness.
Up to this point, if you haven’t been eating healthy foods, there are significant changes that can be made to get you on track. To begin, it is best to limit processed foods that are high in fat and sugar.
Since they take a great deal of energy to digest, they cause fatigue. Studies have found a direct link between foods that are high in fat and the prevalence of depressed mood and anxiety.
Foods for Mental Health Wellness
Antioxidants have properties that improve motor function, memory, and concentration. Some foods that are rich in antioxidants include:
- Blueberries
- Cranberries
- Cherries
- Dark chocolate
- Nuts
- Spinach
Fruits that are rich in vitamin C are great for cognitive function. Research suggests that such foods significantly help prevent neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Foods that are high in vitamin C include:
- Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Tangerines
- Pineapple
- Clementine’s
- Lemons
- Limes
Fish that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Evidence supports that fish that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduce symptoms of depression and play a role in the slowing down of cognitive degeneration. Fish that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids include:
- Salmon
- Trout
- Anchovies
- Tuna
- Mackerel
Whole grains actively help support healthy blood flow to the brain and body. The oxygen that is delivered to the brain promotes healthy thoughts, cognitive functions, emotional regulation, and bodily function. All help promote mental health wellness. Whole grains that are beneficial for promoting mental health wellness include:
- Barley
- Quinoa
- Oatmeal
- Brown Rice
- Buckwheat
Herbal tea. While herbal tea is not necessarily a food, the properties in herbal, non-caffeinated teas have been found to promote a healthy and sound mind actively. Herbal teas help promote peace and calm, and the contents of herbal teas help reduce stress and anxious feelings. Some teas even have antioxidants and medicinal properties that actively promote mental health.
APA Reference
Guarino, G. (2018, June 12). How Foods Affect Your Mental Health Wellness,
HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, January 22 from https://www.healthyplace.com/self-help/self-help-information/how-foodsaffect-your-mental-health-wellness Last Updated: June 15, 2018 Medically reviewed by Harry Croft, MD
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