Nutritional Tips for Mental Health (Part I)

  • Eat ONLY when relaxed (stress negatively impacts digestion) - If food is not fully broken down (starting in the mouth with thorough chewing) it can ferment in your digestive track. If foods are not properly

    digested, nutrients cannot be absorbed leading to malnourished organs (including the BRAIN).

  • Incorporate rituals of MINDFULNESS prior to eating, and throughout your meal.

    • Example of a simple practice of mindfulness when eating — Notice what your food looks like, notice the variety of colors and textures. Think about where it is coming from (the farmer who planted the vegetables, etc.) Feel a sense of gratitude towards the food that you are able to nourish your body. This activity will help calm your brain and simultaneously your body which will help aid digestion. Once you begin eating notice the flavors, textures, temperatures of the food, this will help slow your chewing process down and continue to support a relaxed body.

  • 13 Essential Foods for Mental Health

    • Bone broths

    • Raw almonds

    • Wild salmon or fatty fish

    • Raw butter

    • Coconut (meat and oil)

    • Sweet Potatoes

    • Avocado

    • Beets

    • Cacao

    • Oats and gluten-free grains

    • Arugula and other bitter greens

    • Fresh sauerkraut and other fermented foods

    • Coffee/tea (green and black

THE ABOVE LISTED NUTRITIONAL TIPS ARE REFERENCED FROM THE TEXT

“NUTRITION ESSENTIALS FOR MENTAL HEALTH - A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE FOOD-MOOD CONNECTION” BY LESLIE KORN

NutritionSarah-Brooke Stiles