Nutrition affects our mental health as well. A healthy diet can boost brain function and improve mood, but research also suggests that deficiencies in certain nutrients may contribute to or exacerbate conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The neurotransmitters that run our brain, gut, mood, memory, and stress response require the basics. Some of us may even need more of these building blocks because we are depleted. Examples of neurotransmitters include:
-Acetylcholine
-Dopamine
-Epinephrine (adrenaline)
-GABA -Glutamate or glutamic acid
-Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
-Serotonin
These neurotransmitters and the role that foods play in keeping balance in the brain/gut are key. Consult with your primary care doctor or dietitian about protein (especially amino acids like tryptophan and tyrosine), choline, vitamin C, B vitamins (especially B6, B12, and folate), zinc, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D. Put simply, what you eat directly affects the function of our brain and, ultimately, our mental health. Take our Nutrition and Mental Health Online Course at HOME | course portal and learn what food to eat and about the correlation between nutrition, brain function and mental health.protein (especially amino acids like tryptophan and tyrosine), choline, vitamin C, B vitamins (especially B6, B12, and folate), zinc, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D. Put simply, what you eat directly affects the function of our brain and, ultimately, our mental health. Take our Nutrition and Mental Health Online Course at HOME | courseportal and learn what food to eat and about the correlation between nutrition, brain function and mental health.
