The saying “you are what you eat” is especially true when it comes to the impact of diet on our immune system, longevity, and mental health.
Dr. Uma Naidoo, a nutritional psychiatrist trained at Harvard and author of “Calm Your Mind with Food,” highlights the powerful effect diet has on mental health.
She explains that eating influences the countless microbes in our gut, affecting our mental state as time goes on. Eating unhealthy foods can lead to inflammation in the gut, which might cause mental issues like anxiety.
Naidoo suggests making your diet healthier to ease such problems. Here are her four straightforward diet changes to boost your brain’s health.
- Up Your Fiber Game
Naidoo emphasizes the importance of more fiber. A study in 2021 linked high fiber diets to a lower chance of depression. The best fiber sources are plant-based, like:
- Green leafy vegetables
- Beans and other legumes
- Flax seeds
- Nutritious whole grains
- Eat Colorful Polyphenol Foods
Naidoo recommends eating various colorful foods rich in polyphenols. These different plants and veggies are good for your gut. Foods rich in polyphenols to eat are:
- Carrots
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Nuts like hazelnuts and pecans
- Black olives
Naidoo points out that these foods are beneficial for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, their fiber, and many essential micronutrients.
