Your brain is far more complex than any computer, phone, or tablet operating system. Your brain has been so intricately designed by God that it can store thousands of various memories, facts, data, and knowledge, but can also adapt & learn as new information is input into it.
In order to make this living information system, that is the powerhouse of your entire body, work properly it needs a myriad of stimulation not just from knowledge and information but equally as important, from food (and sleep too, but that’s a different topic).
By ignoring nutritional imbalances, i.e., feeding your brain junk food instead of a wide variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, and clean proteins, you are setting your brain up for a hard drive failure.
Though new information emerges constantly, scientists have known for decades that the brain is extremely sensitive to nutritional deficiencies and imbalances. When your blood sugar crashes, your mood is only steps behind, leaving one with impatience and irritability stemming from the brain’s response to a lack of good food.
Common mood and cognitive issues include things like mood swings, irritability and anger, depression, anxiety, and tension.
So, what to do when your mood is crashing based on nutritional deficiencies?
First, cut out the processed foods which are the main culprit of spiking blood sugar levels and then causing a screeching crash. Your body just doesn’t know how to respond to the edible ingredients in these packaged items.
Second, replace packaged snacks with fresh items like berries, carrot sticks or whole raw nuts. It’s a small change that can make a big difference.
Third, make sure you are eating enough quality protein. Most Americans believe they eat enough protein, but in reality, our culture is highly deficient in the protein area. Shoot for .7-1.0 grams per pound of body weight. Simply multiply your body weight by .7 (or up to 1.0, depending on activity level) to determine how many grams of protein you need per day. Email me if you need help with this.
Lastly, there are some great supplements that can help. The top two being Omega-3’s and B-Complex Vitamins. Deficiencies in these micronutrients have far reaching neurological problems. Much research has found that EPA and DHA, which are the two principal omega-3 fats, benefit a wide range of mood problems, including anxiety, depression, and anger. Likewise, B-complex vitamins have been found to be integral in supporting mood and brain energy levels. Try adding in 1-3 grams per day of fish oil and a high potency B-complex vitamin supplement in addition to a whole foods diet.
Making a few small changes could be the difference in mental health for you.