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Mental Health and Diet

By Colleen Clifford | July 3, 2023

More and more studies are showing that what we eat has an impact on our bodies, especially the organs of the heart and brain. Mental health and diet are connected in ways we are just beginning to understand. Fortunately, it’s never too late to reverse the damage and the sooner we get started changing the unhealthy habits the better.

Depression

The American Society for Nutrition recently explained how the foods we eat directly affect our mental health. Here are a few of the research results they shared that show the connection between healthy eating and depression:

  • Eating vegetables every day reduces symptoms in people diagnosed with clinical depression.
  • A healthy diet can alter neurotransmitters to reduce symptoms of depression.
  • Depression patients who followed the Mediterranean diet saw significant reductions in symptoms.

The Mediterranean Diet is still their favorite go to for overall nutrition and health. Check out our Mediterranean cooking class!

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Dementia

Diet is also critical in mental health journeys such as Alzheimer disease and dementia. The National Institute on Aging again suggests that the Mediterranean diet is a good choice for brain health. They report that this way of eating may reduce oxidative stress in the brain. It can also reduce e inflammation in general. These factors may be part of the reason that people who choose a Mediterranean diet have a lower risk of dementia.

It may also be that the reduction in chronic diseases and general improvement in physical health helps to prevent dementia. Some of the evidence they shared:

  • People who follow the Mediterranean diet have thicker cortical brain regions.
  • A large-scale study of aging and vision found that people who followed a brain-healthy diet had higher cognitive functioning than those who did not.
  • New studies show that the gut microbiome is different in people who suffer from dementia than in cognitively normal people.

Suicide

If you have been touched with suicide, you know the devastation for all involved. You might not know about the connection between suicide and food choices.

There is a National 24/7 hotline at #988 for Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Network. Please call if you or someone you know has suicidal tendencies.

Suicide is real.

Individual Impact:

  • 79% of all people who die by suicide are male.
  • Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are 4 times more likely to die by suicide.
  • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10–14 and the 3rd leading cause of death among people aged 15-24 in the U.S.
  • Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death overall in the U.S.
  • 46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition – but research shows that 90% may have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition.

There’s still so much to learn with mental health but clearly, what we eat can help. Cheers to healthy choices.

If you are interested in how to make changes in your diet and drinking habits, book a free discovery call with me and being the change you want to see.

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About the Author

Colleen Clifford

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” I am writing to say how much our conversation helped me. Your suggestions such as “think about why you want to have a drink” really stuck with me and reminded me to consider why I do anything, not just drinking. I have gone from having a casual drink that I didn’t really want, to saying no thanks and having something else to drink. I made myself some home made syrups that make sparkling water taste like a cocktail and have started to enjoy other things to drink. The wine and beer were just easy and a poor reflex. I appreciate how our conversation brought me to this realization that I may be doing things, like drinking, that are not really serving me well. I feel better and proud to achieve this.”

R.C.

Colleen has done for me what no diet or doctor has been able to do for the past 30 years. She has helped me understand why I eat and helped me realize that I don’t have to eat my feelings. I am important and worthy of better health. I highly recommend her. Our sessions were amazing. I’ve been telling all my friends about her…even strangers. Take the time to do something wonderful for yourself…give Colleen a call.”

S.Z.

“I loved taking Colleen’s knife skills course – it was practical and fun, and I left having learned multiple valuable skills. The best part was being able to interact and ask questions. As someone still building my skills, getting confirmation that I’m on track, from an expert, while practicing with my own knives and kitchen tools, from the comfort of my own home, was totally priceless!”

Amy Buckley

I never knew I could have so much fun in a cooking class. Colleen’s laid-back personality, along with her obvious professional ability, created a relaxed atmosphere that made it easy to step into learning right away. I was able to participate in new techniques and recipes without fear of mistakes or failure. Colleen explained the steps in an easy, patient manner and laughter was abundant in our small group as we worked. I would highly recommend Colleen’s cooking classes to everyone.

Pam Gilbreath

Before meeting Colleen Clifford, my relationship with food was very confusing, unhealthy, and overall difficult to understand. I had the opportunity to work with Colleen and during every session, we dug deeper into my relationship with food, address my triggers, and how to combat it all. Colleen has amazing tools to really make you think and help. These tools are going to be used daily for me, and I am forever grateful. In addition, Colleen is very professional, as well as compassionate. She listens and gives amazing advice. I highly recommend Colleen Clifford.

M.B.

Colleen has an outstanding ability to teach in a manner that promotes understanding and confidence. Not only does she introduce healthy and delicious meals, but with joy that is infectious. She brings her enthusiasm for cooking in a way that has all who receive her passion wanting to emulate her and continue to learn cooking on their own. I will always be grateful to her for her expertise, charm, and humor in providing a rich experience for the women of Jubilee Women’s Center.

Kathy Lewis

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