Brain Food, Memory & Mood
What we eat and how we move impacts our brain in lots of ways! We all know how when we eat some of our "comfort foods" that our mood lifts momentarily. But, we don't often think about how food can negatively impact our mood and our memory!
June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month; and while you may have heard snippets here and there about the Brain/Gut connection, y'all, it's SUPER powerful!
Many of our hormones are produced in our guts! Serotonin is one; and it regulates several functions including our mood, appetite, and sleep. Processed foods and those with refined sugar negatively impact the way serotonin functions in our bodies because they inhibit the production of "good" gut bacteria. By reducing the amount of processed foods and refined sugars, and eating foods with /or taking probiotic supplements, you're feeding your body better fuel and allowing your brain and gut to improve their communication, and therefore your mood, sleep, and energy!
#nutritionalpsyciatry
Want to further boost your brain health?!
Incorporate these foods into your eating plan and reduce your risk for alzheimers (and many other chronic diseases)!
- Omega-3 fats are most prevalent in fish such as salmon, tuna, herring and mackerel
- A variety of fruits and veggies
- Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)
Cortisol (the stress hormone) also impacts our mood and memory. This week, take some steps to reduce your stress, whether it be taking time out to be in nature, doing your favorite physical activity, connecting with friends/family, taking a bath, enjoying your favorite things (or a combo of all of the above), be kind to yourself.
CHALLENGE: For the next few weeks, cut down on the amount of processed foods and sugars that you eat and up your intake of foods from the list above. Make a note of how you feel. Here are a few things to keep tabs on: What's your energy level like? What about your mood? How well can you concentrate?
Read the full version of my June 6th Well-Being Wednesday newsletter here!
In it, you'll find:
A link to register for my free webinar an intro to tapping into weight loss and my favorite summer workout sunscreen!