5 Best Foods For Mental Health

The best foods for mental health can be determined by the way our brain receives the nutrients. This is understandable when you consider the fact that our brain requires about 25% of all the nutrients we take in. And, interestingly, our brain is said to be a little more than 60% fat, which makes it the fattest organ in our body.  

What we eat is processed by our body and used by our brain to function according to the nutrients received, both in quality and quantity. An example of this is the positive mental response when taking in carbohydrates (sugar) for energy to finish a task during strenuous physical activity. However, if you load up on carbohydrates without physical exercise you can become mentally and physically “sluggish”.

Your brain is the control center for good mental health. It requires a balance of nutrients to function optimally. Yet, there are nutrients that can dramatically enhance your mental health; the sense of well being, sharpened mental alertness, and memory, as we were all designed to be.

From my research I found 5 foods that are best for maintaining and, in many cases, improving mental health.

1. Salmon; omega 3 fatty acids are extremely important for good brain health. Wild salmon is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D and selenium. Omega 3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, benefits our thought processes and helps reduce the the incidence of some brain related issues. There has been some research that claims a relationship between a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids and one’s IQ. Other popular sources of omega 3 are walnuts and kiwi. Vitamin D also supports our thought processes and some studies have shown a relationship of low selenium levels and depression. Brazil nuts is a good source of selenium.
2. Spinach; this green leafy vegetable seemed to be the best in helping to maintain mental sharpness. Studies show there is less mental decline in people who eat fresh vegetables every day. This is particularly true in older people. Kale is also listed as one of the best vegetables for mental health.
3. Brown rice; this is a whole grain that is rich in selenium and manganese, both important for our nervous system. Also, manganese assists the body in synthesizing fats. That may be why many diet gurus refer to brown rice as a “fat burner”.
4. Blueberries; ranking high on the list of antioxidants this member of the berry family, along with most all brightly colored fruits, are loaded with flavonoid compounds. Research has found that flavonoids help maintain our mental acuity, particularly sharpening our memory.
5. Cottage cheese; this dairy product is high in selenium and vitamin B12, both with mental health benefits. Vitamin B12 can help guard against memory loss.

It is no surprise that these foods are representative of the five food groups recognized for balanced nutrition. Too much of any one group can be detrimental to good health. Our body is a unique system of checks and balances, and in that sense it requires balanced nutrition to function.

Water should not be left out of any discussion on nutrition. It is very important for improving mental health. Dehydration can result in chemical imbalances that directly affect good brain function.

Article Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/mental-health/5-best-foods-for-mental-health