How Good Eating Habits Affect Your Mental Health
Did you know that your diet and eating habits directly affect your mental health and well-being? According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in five Americans will experience a form of mental illness in any given year. This blog post will discuss the link between diet and mental wellness, where to find healthy food in Boston, and tips on maintaining a well-balanced diet in your life, even when you’re at the office.
You Are What You Eat
There’s no denying the truth behind one of the oldest clichés in the book: You are what you eat. Your body and brain need high-quality fuel to function correctly. Your brain consumes about 20% of your daily calorie intake.
In addition, research in nutritional psychiatry has shown that the gut and brain have a definitive link. Junk food can lead to body and brain inflammation, further increasing your risk of anxiety or depression.
Living a Healthy Lifestyle Matters
Eating a proper diet is an integral part of living a healthy lifestyle and focusing on mental wellness. For example, research shows that the Mediterranean diet can reduce your risk of depression. It involves eating lots of fruits, veggies, and legumes, only a moderate amount of poultry, eggs, and dairy, and rarely consuming red meat.
Some tasty ingredients to include in a Mediterranean-inspired diet include walnuts, Brussels sprouts, grain bowls, lean chicken breast, egg whites, berries, leafy greens, and fresh, seasonal produce. Of course, vegetarians and vegans can cut out the meat, dairy, and eggs. If you’re on a gluten-free diet, skip the grains.
Healthy Foods and Diet Choices for Mental Wellness
Just as eating junk food is bad for your body and mind, eating a healthy diet has a positive impact on your mental health and wellness. Here are the best healthy foods for supporting mental health and cognitive function:
- Coffee
- Nuts
- Avocados
- Fish
- Citrus fruits
- Blueberries
- Greek yogurt
- Whole grains
- Beets
- Dark chocolate
- Leafy greens
- Rosemary
In addition, you may want to try these diets:
- South Beach
- Mediterranean
- Zone
- Ketogenic
- Vegetarian or vegan
Make Your Meals Healthier with Rootastes: A Variety of Meals, Ready To Eat
One of the best ways to support your mental well-being by eating healthy is with Rootastes. The gourmet office caterer is one of the trendiest places to get healthy food in Boston and offers fresh, farm-to-table cuisine.
In particular, the workplace makes it challenging to eat a well-balanced diet, but the relationship between work and food doesn’t have to be negative. The Rootastes’ Seasonal Menu features locally sourced dishes that make it easy to maintain a healthy diet. As a bonus, office lunch catering provides some surprising benefits in the workplace and supports employee health and wellness.
If you would like to try our office lunch delivery or individual dishes, here are three ways to order and enjoy Rootastes at work and home:
- For groups or corporate catering, order via our website.
- For an individual order, visit our booth at Boston Public Market between 11 am and 5 pm.
- Alternatively, you can place individual orders online via Uber Eats between 11 am and 5 pm.
Maintain a Healthy, Well-Balanced Diet To Support Mental Wellness
Just because there’s a comfort food on every corner doesn’t mean you can’t find healthy food in Boston. Remember, eating a poor diet will negatively affect your mental health. All those sugary, high-fat, and processed foods will put you at a higher risk of depression and anxiety.
Instead of fast food, head to the local farmer’s market or check out local restaurants and food vendors like Rootastes that offer healthy, locally sourced dishes. Visit the Boston Public Market or the Rootastes’ website to order your next healthy dish and arouse your culinary senses.