Online Nutritional Therapy in Roswell, GA

Yes, your nutrition can absolutely affect your mental health as there is a direct relationship between the foods we eat and how it causes our brain to function. Meeting your nutritional needs benefits the brain in several ways, increasing the production of neurons and bolstering stronger connections between them. This allows them to better communicate, which improves the way we can learn, think, and feel.

An unhealthy diet, or not meeting your nutritional needs, causes the body to release high levels of stress hormone which often triggers inflammation. This is a protective biological response; however, it can negatively affect the cognitive areas of our brains. This can make it harder to plan, focus, or remember things, and can lead to the development of mood disorders such as depression. 

Nutrition plays a key role in keeping both the mind and body healthy. A proper diet can reverse the depletion of vital nutrients that may be causing chemical and hormonal balances in the brain and throughout the body. 

It’s important to note that certain foods, or a lack of specific foods, can make you more prone to developing mood imbalances or exacerbating existing ones. On the flip side, proper nutrition can aid in stabilizing your mood, reducing stress, improving sleep, psychological and physiological healing, and raising cognitive function. 

Nutrition plays a key role in preventing, managing, and treating certain mental health disorders. Nutritional deficiencies and a poor-quality diet cause inflammation throughout the body, a contributing factor to mood disorders – the most common of which is depression and anxiety. Poor dietary choices during periods of stress, anxiety and depression are common but can worsen symptoms – making them even harder to rebound from. 

While this cycle can be a vicious one, it can be overcome with proper medical treatment and counseling.

To function effectively, your body requires a variety of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals that come from having a variety of nutritious food. Nutrients that play a vital role in safeguarding your mental health are: 

• Complex carbohydrates, such as those found in brown rice and starchy vegetables. 
• Lean proteins, such as those found in poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts, and seeds.
• Omega 3 fatty acids, can be found in foods such as fish, oysters, nuts, and seeds.
• B vitamins can be found in red meat, poultry, whole grains, and leafy vegetables. 
• Vitamin D can be produced by spending time in the sun and by consuming oily fish, fortified foods, or supplements. 
• Zinc and magnesium can be found in a variety of whole grains, nuts, spinach, leafy greens, and lean meats.
• Amino acids can be found in protein-rich foods such as meat, eggs, nuts, seeds, legumes, and seafood.

Proper nutrition plays an important role in preventing dips in your mental health and protecting your overall wellness. At PersonAll Counseling, we understand that your mental and psychological health walk hand in hand, which is why we offer nutritional counseling to help our clients restore emotional and physical balance. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve clients from Roswell GA, Mountain Park GA, Dunwoody GA, Sandy Springs GA, Alpharetta GA, and surrounding areas.