Eating Healthy😌😋

Hello Lovely People!!!

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Todayyy we are going to talk about the importance of eating healthy foods and how does food makes you happy. You can probably think of one memory in which you had an incredible meal that was so delicious it made you feel a physical sense of happiness. 

This clearly show that food really does make us happy, chemically, and increasing evidence shows that good food improves long-term mental health outcomes on top of physical health indicators. We can see that hormones and neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine are released in the body to reward you for enjoying a healthy meal.

So..what can be considered as good food?

There are differences in diets all around the world across different cultures, ages and even financial conditions of a particular area. This is why variety and moderation are always key (and why you shouldn’t stress too much about having the perfect diet; there is no such thing).

While you might experience that instant burst of satisfaction from a really good bar of chocolate, or while indulging in a burger from your favorite fast-food restaurant, these types of high glycemic-index foods aren’t going to make you happier in the long run. Research shows that consuming more fruits and vegetables, as well as foods high in fatty acids (like salmon) regularly increases mental well-being over the course of a year. This was shown to be the case regardless of age, sex, or race. 

One diet, in particular, has been the focus of studies between mental health and food: the Mediterranean diet. It consists of high consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes; moderate consumption of poultry, eggs, and dairy products; and only occasional consumption of red meat. Current research suggests this diet is tied to a reduced risk of depression. 

When eating “healthy” foods as opposed to unhealthy foods, your brain responds to the nutrients you’re ingesting by releasing neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and more, all of which help with mood regulation, sleep aid, and reducing the physical reaction of anxiety. By more regularly eating these foods, you’re helping to regulate your body’s physical reactions that can exacerbate anxiety, fatigue, and depression. 

Then..Why we feel happy while eating sweets?

Second to fruits and vegetables, eating “unhealthy”(only if taken in a large amount) foods such as sweets are shown to increase happiness while eating them. So for long-term health impacts, fruits, and vegetables are still undefeated, but for that instant mood boost, your favorite treats are still the way to go. 

A more recent discovery was that overall mental health benefited equally from snacks and meals! It was previously assumed that a larger meal, like dinner, would have more of an impact, but your brain and your stomach is just happy to be eating, whether it’s an afternoon snack or a meal. 

Then What exactly bad food?

A poor diet is a restricted diet. Whether intentional or not, not providing your body with enough calories or nutrients will just create long-term damage to a body’s functioning. The severity of the effects on development from lack of nutrition is most notable in children, and food insecurity can lead to poor academic/cognitive performance, on top of stunted physical development. 

Here are some factors that can affect our diet -

• No access to affordable healthy food.

• Trying to meet the social expectations of what is a "perfect" diet.

• Body shaming and insecurity can also lead to changes in diet plans.

Food access is necessary, not just for physical well-being, but for mental health as well. Financial restrictions limiting a diet to only the affordable, “unhealthy” foods available at a corner store prevent a person from taking agency over their food choices and their own mental and physical health, and the repercussions can last a lifetime. 

We can see this vicious cycle between food insecurity and one’s mental health. A cycle that could be reduced by improving access to nutrition. That’s where we come in. We Don’t Waste is working toward breaking down that vicious cycle. 

Until we meet again...🙌

Eat healthy stay healthy ✨🧡