Seth Foster  |  Published February 08, 2021

A Healthy Diet

Your diet is an important factor in affecting your mental health.  A well balanced diet can increase your energy and your brain’s functioning.
Serving sizes for an ideal plate.
Serving sizes for an ideal plate.

A healthy diet affects your mental health more than you may know. During these difficult times, we need to focus on our mental health more than ever. Since the start of Covid-19, there has been an increase in reported stress in adults ages 18 and older. The sugar-rich, processed foods that you eat can cause inflammation and swelling in your body and brain which can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, when someone is stressed or anxious they normally gravitate to these unhealthy foods. Instead, we should try to eat a balanced diet of complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and fatty acids. Carbohydrates give you proper energy, proteins repair muscles and allow your body to react and think quickly, and fatty acids are vital for the functioning of your brain and nervous system. Below are some examples of complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and fatty acids that can be found in the school cafeteria and Scots Market.

 

Complex Carbohydrates: brown rice, potatoes, bananas, black beans, pinto beans, raspberries, and quinoa.
Lean Proteins: chicken, beef, eggs, cottage cheese, tofu, shrimp, egg whites, and pork loin.
Fatty Acids: fish, spinach, broccoli, nuts, olive oil, avocados, and eggs
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