How Your Diet Affects Every Aspect of Your Health

Planning your diet can be confusing. Every day, you hear some news about some food or nutrient that you should be consuming or avoiding. Instead, try viewing your diet holistically and choose a variety of foods that benefit your whole self, physically and mentally. What you eat affects every aspect of your health.

Your Physical Energy

Many aspects of your wellbeing go into giving you the physical energy you need, and you should eat foods that support all your bodily systems. You may think that carbs are a “go-to” energy source, but that’s only true in the short run. Long-term energy depends on your body’s strength, endurance, and ability to respond to challenges.

Slow-burning energy that supports your muscles, bones, and nerves will provide the best source to increase physical energy. These include proteins including fish and lean meats, whole grains, legumes like beans and soy, and complex carbohydrates like green vegetables.

Mental Health

It may be surprising to learn that your diet can affect your mental health, but it’s true. For example, eating whole grains and legumes can aid in the production of hormones such as phytoestrogens and serotonin, which help to prevent mood swings.

Anti-inflammatory foods may help with depression and anxiety. These foods include nuts, green vegetables such as avocados and broccoli, olive oil, fatty fish like salmon and tuna, berries, grapes, and oranges. At the same time, you should avoid foods that can increase inflammation such as high-fat meats and refined carbs.

Immune System

The foods you consume are crucial to maintaining a healthy immune system, and it goes way beyond vitamin C. Your body also needs a variety of vitamins and micronutrients, including vitamin D, iron, selenium, and probiotics that create a positive “gut biome” that influences how your immune system is regulated.

Some lesser-known foods that assist with your immune system include garlic, ginger, and turmeric, which is an anti-inflammatory. Turmeric is a root vegetable used for flavoring in curries, mustards, and other foods.

It’s not a coincidence that the same foods that affect one aspect of your health will affect other aspects as well. With a varied diet composed mostly of whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, and fresh vegetables, you are sure to get the nutrients you need to fuel your body and maintain all your bodily systems. You’ll feel good both physically and mentally.

Check out this article on activities that may help improve your mental health this year!