LIFTu - Life Coach Isle of Wight

  The relationship between the foods we eat and mental health is complex but often referred to as mood and food, the premise being that healthy eating determines mental health. This LIFTu article explores a root cause of mental health disorders - nutrient deficiencies caused by eating a diet high in junk food. A brief history of food. The first step in understanding the rich difference between fresh live food and processed foods is understanding a brief history of food. For most of history, people didn’t have access to the variety of foods we have today. Food was seasonal and local, and people generally ate what was available. Their diets varied depending on where they lived and the time of year. Over time, as transportation and storage technology improved, people had access to more types of food from more places. This led to the development of the processed food industry, mass-produced food for a global market. Processed foods are typically high in sugar, fat, and salt and low in...

  While a variety of factors are involved in what can impact mental health, one is often forgotten: physical exercise. You see when you're physically exercising, your body produces a hormone known as endorphin. This hormone functions to numb any pain present within our body and makes us feel elated (hence the nickname "happy hormone"!) - but it can also have the same effects on our mind. Thus the phrase; Healthy Body, Healthy Mind. Let's attain that right now! Mental Health on a Chemical Level and the Brain The benefits of regular exercise go far beyond physical fitness. Exercise is an effective treatment for mental health issues like anxiety and depression and can also improve cognitive function. But how does regular exercise encourage a more positive and healthy mindset? One way is by impacting the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. For example, exercise has been shown to increase serotonin levels, a chemical that affects mood and happiness. Research has also...