Exercise
As it was mental health awareness week last week, I have decided to highlight the benefits of regular exercise and good nutrition for your mental health.
Exercise is not just great for your body but also your mind. There is lots of research to show that when you exercise, chemicals called endorphins are released in your brain and these make you feel good, boost your concetration levels and help you sleep better.
Exercise can also give you a welcome distraction from whatever is going on in your day to day life, be a great way to meet new people, give you a goal to focus on and work towards and really improve your confidence.
Here is a list of benefits to sumarise:
- less tension, stress and mental fatigue
- a natural energy boost
- improved sleep
- a sense of achievement
- focus in life and motivation
- less anger or frustration
- a healthy appetite
- better social life
- having fun
Simply getting out for a 20 minute walk will help and is a great way to start, then over time you can increase the time or progress on to more intense exercise if you wish.
Nutrition
Recent evidence suggests that goood nutrition plays an essential role in mental health and that a number of mental health conditions may be influenced by dietary factors.
As well as its impact on short and long-term mental health, the evidence indicates that food plays an important contributing role in the development, management and prevention of specific mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Nearly two thirds of those who do not report daily mental health problems eat fresh fruit or fruit juice every day, compared with less than half of those who do report daily mental health problems. This pattern is similar for fresh vegetables and salad. Those who report some level of mental health problem also eat fewer healthy foods (fresh fruit and vegetables and meals made from scratch) and more unhealthy foods (chips and crisps, chocolate, ready meals and takeaways).
A balanced mood and feelings of wellbeing can be protected by ensuring that our diet provides adequate amounts of complex carbohydrates, essential fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water.
If you want some tips on how to start eating healthier follow this link to a previous post.
Information gathered from mental health Ireland and here is the number for samaritans if you need to talk to someone 166 123.
Any questions just fill in below. Thanks Shane