top of page
  • Writer's pictureKerry Dunphy

Changing One's Eating Habits to Better Their Mental Health

Updated: May 9, 2021

Obtaining high-quality nutrition drastically affects one’s mental health. Consuming processed foods and sugar could lead someone into developing inflammation all throughout their body and brain. As a result, a poor diet can lead to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, according to sutterhealth.org.


Image by Carly Foglia

"Physical and mental states are closely intertwined, and nutrition plays an important role in maintaining a state of health and wellness," says healthyeating.org. A beneficial diet may assist someone to comprehend things more distinctly, become more observant, and may even enhance one’s attentiveness and concentration for a period of time, according to sutterhealth.org.


Image by Wix.com

Consuming different healthy foods is vital to a well-proportioned diet and suitable nutrition, as stated by betterhealth.vic.gov.au. One of the biggest health losses is society’s dependance on processed foods. These foods are high in flours and sugar and train the brain to crave more of them, rather than nutrient-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables,” says sutterhealth.org.


Image by Wix.com

As said by verywellhealth.com, a nutritionist is a professional in the custom of food and nutrition to endorse well-being and control illnesses. These experts instruct individuals on what to consume in order to guide a nutritious lifestyle or reach a certain health-related aspiration.


Image by Wix.com

Nutritionist, Carly Foglia, has a B.S. degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and an M.S. degree in Community Nutrition. Currently, she's working towards becoming a Registered Dietician.


Image by Carly Foglia

Carly says that there are certain foods to boost one’s mental health. She states that there is an important gut to mood factor when it comes to nutrition. “There is plenty of evidence that shows that irritation and inflammation of the GI tract can result in mental health disorders like depression and chronic anxiety or stress. So, probiotics can definitely be mood medicine,” says Carly.


Infographic created by Kerry Dunphy using Canva.com

Carly states that probiotics may be taken as a supplement but are also found in food and drinks such as yogurt, kombucha, Keifer, and sauerkraut. She says that two important things to keep in mind are pre-biotics and probiotics. Carly explains that probiotics are live active cultures or bacteria that live in your gut.


Image by Carly Foglia

“When consuming these bacteria, you are replenishing the “good bacteria” that keep your gut-brain connected. Pre-biotics are also labeled resistance starches," says Carly. She states that probiotics are the carbohydrates that aren’t fully digested in the small intestine but are consumed by these “good bacteria” and induce their growth or activity.


Image by Wix.com

According to healthyeating.org, a nurtured body and mind will be better prepared to manage life’s disputes. Health.harvard.edu shares advice on how to begin a healthy eating journey. “Try eating a “clean” diet for two to three weeks — that means cutting out all processed foods and sugar. See how you feel. Then slowly introduce foods back into your diet, one by one, and see how you feel,” Health.harvard.edu. They communicate that individuals should become more attentive to how eating different foods can make them feel; stressing that one should focus on the next day as well, not just the current moment.




95 views0 comments
Post: Blog2 Post
bottom of page