Food For Thought – Achieving Mental Wellness with a Well-Balanced Diet

We all know that nutrition impacts us physically, but what about mentally? 

Mental wellness and diet are intrinsically linked. That means that the food we consume can either support our mind's ability to lead toward success – or cause nutrient deficiencies that compromise our brain's functioning and psychological well-being.

Ingrained & Balanced is a podcast about health, fitness, and practicing a well-balanced lifestyle. On season 1, episode 3 of the podcast, hosts Lonnie and Marty are joined by special guest Justin Bethoney, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and author of a book called "The Mental Wellness Diet, Ancient Wisdom, Evolving Science, Modern-Day Options." Together they speak about how fueling the brain with nutrients can allow people to feel and function at their best. 

Canaries and Coal Mines

A "canary in a coal mine" is a popular metaphor used to describe an early warning of danger. But when it comes to the human body – warning signs are not always easy to interpret.

In his book, Justin uses the analogy of a canary in a coal mine to describe how people often try to suppress or ignore the body's symptoms rather than interpret them as indicators of more significant health problems. However, health symptoms, especially mental health symptoms, may point toward issues caused by poor nutrition.

Emotional stress, lethargy, insomnia, and the inability to focus are common symptoms that people may face throughout their lives. While they may seem tame, ignoring these symptoms may rob you of the opportunity to support your body with the nutrients it requires and improve your overall wellness.

Listening to the Body

To properly treat our bodies, we must first learn to notice and understand our body's signs. One of Justin's core beliefs is that the mind and body have their way of telling you when you require specific nutrients. If this is true, how can we pick up on and understand these signs and signals?

On the podcast, Justen explains how listening to the body and practicing healthy eating habits can improve overall wellness. A simple example of this is a phenomenon that is so commonly experienced that it has its own term - "hanger." 

People experience "hanger" and irritability when they are hungry. As such, poor nutrition's effect on our mental wellness in the form of our mood may be linked to blood sugar imbalances. When the body experiences blood sugar imbalances, it can release stress hormones to unlock stored blood sugar and bring levels up to normal.

So the next time you're feeling irritable, ask yourself whether you've been supplying your body with proper nutrients such as protein and fiber. After all, your mentality may be influenced by your body's way of coping with a nutrient deficiency.

Justin insists upon listening to your own body as a form of functional medicine. He explains that functional medicine focuses on preventing and treating symptoms before they become significant health issues. As such, taking mental symptoms as indicators of deficiencies can help you support your body with proper nutrients – before your symptoms get worse.

Nutrient-Dense Diets

According to Justin, taking a functional medicine approach toward your well-being by staying aware of your symptoms will allow you to maintain balanced physical and mental health.

Of course, with demanding schedules and busy lives, paying attention to how the body and mind feel and anticipating our needs is easier said than done.

Instead, prioritizing nutrient density in your meals can help support multiple areas of the body. Therefore, it is important to seek out high-nutrient-dense foods rather than supplementing them with fast meal replacements. While meal supplements like protein bars can save time and fuel the body, they may also have adverse effects that trigger stress hormones and compromise the body's natural rhythm.

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Tune in to the Ingrained & Balanced podcast to catch Justin Bethoney's interview and learn more about how listening to your symptoms, practicing balanced eating habits, and fortifying your body with a nutritious diet can improve your overall mental and physical wellness.