Quality nutrition through a whole foods diet rich in vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats is one of the best ways to support your mental health and overall mood but being conscious of your eating habits can make a big difference too. Here is a list of meaningful nutrition habits that can make a difference in your everyday life.

Meaningful Nutrition Habits

Eat 3 Meals

Eating regularly is essential for preventing blood sugar crashes. Low blood sugar can impact your mood by increasing mood swings and irritability and it can also increase feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety

Balance Your Plate

Eating nutritious, whole foods will have a positive impact on your mental health. These foods will keep your blood sugar levels balanced and help energize you throughout the day. Eating more processed, refined, and fast foods will be more likely to promote sluggish feelings and negatively impact your mental health.
Be mindful of sugary drinks like sodas and coffee beverages and try to limit your consumption to an occasional treat. These drinks are very high in sugar and contain zero fiber, which means they will have a drastic impact on your blood sugar levels.

Cut Back on Caffeine

Caffeine can negatively impact mood in certain individuals; it can increase feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression. Caffeine also negatively impacts sleep patterns, which has negative consequences on overall mood.
Limit total caffeine intake, avoid high caffeine drinks like energy drinks, and avoid consuming caffeine after 12 pm.

Don’t Cope with Cocktails

There is a strong link between alcohol and depression. Alcohol is sometimes used as a coping strategy for low mood, however, it has also been shown to trigger or worsen symptoms of depression in vulnerable individuals.
In addition, did you know that women are twice as likely as men to abuse alcohol when dealing with low mood or depression?

Try Nutrition Habits that Boost Your Mood

Nutrition impacts mental health. Therefore reducing inflammation, improving gut health, and supporting the production of important chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin can improve your mood. By incorporating healthy nutrition habits and being mindful of when and what you consume you can boost your mood each and every day.
What nutrition habits tend to make the biggest impact on your day?