3 Positives and Negatives to Nourish Your Mental Health
Mental health support is only as good as the foundation upon which it is built.
Mental health support is only as good as the foundation upon which it is built. You cannot do the work of running 2 miles without nourishment, sleep, and hydration. In the article, “Supporting Healthy Eating in Your Patients: A Nutritionist’s Advice,” nutritionist Mary Kate Keyes, MS, RDN, shares 3 examples of foods that can help nourish mental health and 3 foods that might be worth avoiding.1
Start your day with an egg, or boil a few for your next salad. Adding just a bit of those super helpful nutrients can make a difference!
Noticing why you are choosing to drink, whether you even enjoy it, or if you are reaching for alcohol for other reasons, can be a helpful practice to support mental health.
Eating mushrooms with their bonus vitamin D can be a tasty way to take control of your mental health.
Reaching for ultra-processed foods provides an opportunity to practice both mindfulness and, specifically, mindful eating. Why are you choosing that bag of chips right now—are you feeling sad and want something to provide comfort? Do you deserve a “treat”? These are all opportunities to increase your awareness of why you are making this food choice.
Berries may be the best.
Advising a patient to understand the connection between their choice of drink and their subsequent emotional reaction can be extremely helpful in supporting long-term mental and physical health.
1. Keyes MK. Supporting healthy eating in your patients: a nutritionist’s advice. Psychiatric Times. April 12, 2022. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/supporting-healthy-eating-in-your-patients-a-nutritionist-s-advice
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