How Does the Food We Eat Affect Our Emotional Wellbeing? hipporeads Ask Me Anything The link between the types of food and drink you consume and the resulting effect on your body is well documented, and obviously, when looking to become the healthiest version of yourself possible, eating the right things at the right times can only be a good thing. However, you may not currently truly realize the direct impact that food can have on your mental health and emotional well-being, and in an attempt to change that, continue reading. Carbohydrates & Energy When you think of energy as a commodity, you will naturally imagine it as the fuel to physically power your body, with people who regularly go to the gym and lift weights having more physical energy than those who spend the majority of their time on the couch. However, energy is also a palpable component of mental health too, which is why people living with the debilitating MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) often feel lethargic and, in more serious cases, find it incredibly difficult to get out of bed in the morning. Healthy sources of carbohydrates include fruit, beans, legumes, grains, unsalted nuts, and either minimally processed or entirely unprocessed whole grains. Dysphagia & Root Causes When a person, regardless of age or gender, develops issues with chewing and swallowing, making them change the foods they eat or else fall out of love with eating in the first place, this is often medically diagnosed as dysphagia. Now, there are both physical causes of dysphagia, such as memory-based illnesses such as dementia, heart attacks, and stroke, but also emotional causes, such as PTSD, highlighting the direct correlation between the brain and consumption. If you are someone who is living with dysphagia, diagnosed or otherwise, one of the best ways of trying to help manage eating and the swallowing process is to start using Simply Thick EasyMix, which may help make eating both easier and more enjoyable. Food & Mood You may have heard your parents, friends and colleagues rave about the latest dietary plan that energizes them and generally lifts their mood to new heights. Now, nobody is saying that if you are someone who is living with depression, changing the foods you eat will immediately eradicate any signs or symptoms, but frankly, consuming more fruits, vegetables, and lean meats cannot possibly be a bad thing. To combat feelings of stress and the onset of anxiety, you could look into adding key products that directly relate to the release of happy hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, which include dark chocolate, pineapple, salmon, cherry tomatoes, and asparagus. Eat What Works for You Finally, some people who absolutely adore the taste of garlic and, if they had it their way, would include it in every meal, cannot eat anything containing garlic because it reacts badly once inside their digestive system. The same situation can also be true in the context of your emotional health. For example, if, after eating a stodgy meal such as pasta or pizza, you feel lethargic and lack energy, even though others adore such foods, you should do your best to avoid them. Image credit: Brooke Lark via Unsplash