March is National Nutrition Month. Did you know that nutrition plays an important role in our mental health?
A recent study provides evidence that dietary improvement significantly reduces symptoms of depression and improves mood, even in people without diagnosed depressive disorders.
“Just making simple changes is equally beneficial for mental health,” said Dr. Joseph Firth.
In particular, eating more nutrient-dense meals which are high in fiber and vegetables, while cutting back on fast-foods and refined sugars appears to be sufficient for avoiding the potentially negative psychological effects of a ‘junk food’ diet.
Want to improve your diet but not sure where to start? Here are some ideas:
- Make half of each plate you eat fruits and vegetables
- Keep healthy snacks on hand
- Learn how to read food labels so you can make healthy choices
- Drink more water. Aim for half of your body weight in ounces of water each day
- Cook at home rather than eating out
- Avoid added sugars
For more information on National Nutrition Month visit the Eat Right website.
For more tips, recipes and nutrition advice, visit our friends at RESULTS. Professional Food Coaching.