May’s Momentum for Mental Health and Wellness––This is Good News

WFAS May Mental Health.jpg

May’s Momentum for Mental Health and Wellness––This is Good News

Written By: Connie Pshigoda

Awareness on Mental Health and Wellness takes the spotlight every May––since 1949––to educate, inform and encourage Americans on ways they may find specific resources for themselves or someone they know or love. Organizations strive to raise the public’s awareness and remove previous beliefs and misconceptions about Mental Health.

Nearly 43-million (1 in 5) Americans are affected by or experience mental health issues/concerns on some level. Young people––ages 13-18––experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lifetime. Those numbers may seem staggering, as the symptoms may range from:

  • Addictions

  • ADHD

  • Anxiety or Depression

  • Autism

  • Bi-Polar Disorder

  • Borderline Personality Disorder

  • Eating Disorders

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

  • Mental Illness

  • Schizophrenia

As new discoveries and technologies in understanding the mechanics of brain function become more widely available to the general public, it will be easier to obtain ongoing support and treatment for mental disorders, often in the comfort and privacy of one’s own home. I use a couple of new technologies that focus on micro-circulation and neuro-tech with my clients that have produced impressive results.

It is no secret that a physical fitness regimen also improves brain fitness. Many mental wellness programs incorporate yoga, Tai Chi, and various forms of dance as well as other forms of fitness to support whole-body improvement.

As a wellness coach who focuses on nature’s seasonal foods, I am delighted to read the numerous articles and abstracts that promote a natural, plant-based, nutrient-rich food plan to support brain health. Highly acclaimed publications are releasing their studies with proof from their clinical trials. This is good news!

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Nutritional Neuroscience aimed to prove that natural plant compounds (polyphenols) possessed specific properties that reduced oxidative stress and stimulated the activation of brain molecules that help in connective plasticity, a process that supports cognitive function. They concluded that using a healthy plant-based diet is a realistic method to overcome cognitive and psychiatric disorders. “Thus, the consumption of diets enriched with polyphenols may present the potential of dietary manipulation as a non-invasive, natural, and inexpensive therapeutic means to support a healthy brain.” That’s a lot of science just to say, “Eat Your Vegetables!”

It is exciting to read research article titles like: “Brain Foods that Supercharge Your Memory, Focus and Mood,” “Antioxidants for a Healthier Brain,” “ Give Kids a Nutritional Edge with Brain Foods,” “The Effects of Nutrients on Brain Function and Health,” and many more. This is evidence that science is seriously looking at plant-based foods for brain health and function. This is good news.

Since we are heading into the Summer season, here is my short list of fresh, brain-building plant foods to refresh your brain:

  • Aloe Vera Juice

  • Apples

  • Apricots

  • Artichokes

  • Asparagus

  • Avocados

  • Bell Peppers (red, green, yellow, orange)

  • Beets

  • Berries (Black, Blue, Goji, Raspberry, Strawberry)

  • Broccoli & Brussels sprouts

  • Cherries

  • Citrus (orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime)

  • Herbs: Gingko, Goto Kola, Bacopa, Rhodiola, Rosemary, Sage, Garlic, Ginger Turmeric,

  • Kiwi, red grapes, peaches, pears, plums

  • Peas, spinach, tomato

  • Walnuts, Almonds, Hazelnuts

  • Yam/sweet potato

Look for these fresh foods at upcoming Farmers Markets and as ingredients in your nutritional supplements. Science has proven that the health of the gut greatly affects the health of the brain. The food list I’ve shared supports “all-over-health” that begins in the gut, so make these foods plentiful in your Summer menus. Your brain will thank you!

Savor the Season!