Heal the Body to Heal the Mind
Mental illness can make living difficult. Everyday tasks seem unmanageable. Work is overwhelming and family life is a struggle. If you or someone you know is suffering from mental illness, take a look into some of these natural ways to improve mental health.
Natural Way to Improve Mental Health 1 – First, Be Sure the Diagnosis is Accurate
In this day and age where virtually everybody is prescribed a pill for something, it is very important to be sure the symptoms being experienced are related to mental illness. There are many physical ailments that mimic mental health problems. Thyroid disease, gluten intolerance, hypoglycemia and heavy metal toxicity are just a few of the physical illnesses that may at first be diagnosed as schizophrenia, depression or anxiety disorder. For a more detailed description of these and more diseases, I highly recommend reading my earlier article,
“Could Your Mental Illness Actually Be Physical?”
Natural Way to Improve Mental Health 2 – Second, Make Some Dietary Changes
In addition to hidden food intolerances, mental health can also be affected by food preservatives such as:
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Aspartame
Aspartame is one of the deadliest poisons we consume every day. There are a whopping 92 different symptoms related to aspartame poisoning, the most common being attention deficit disorder and panic disorder.
Food Dyes
Food dyes such as Red Dye #40 and Yellow Dye #5 have been noted to affect both children and adults in a very negative way. Both have been linked to anxiety, hyperactivity and learning disorders. Yellow Dye #5 can also cause migraines and insomnia.
It is very important to become a label reader and drastically reduce or eliminate foods containing these additives from your diet.
A diet rich in a wide variety of healthy, raw, whole foods are the best natural choice for good mental and physical health. Choose organic meats, fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts as the staple of your diet. Indulge in dark organic chocolate for dessert. Dark chocolate can have a powerful impact on mental health by boosting the feel-good chemical in the brain, serotonin and encouraging relaxation.
Natural Way to Improve Mental Health 3 – Third, Take Some Supplements
The Western diet is full of fatty, fried and fast foods that take a toll on both physical and mental health. Though it is important to get the majority of nutrients from food, there are three nutrients those suffering with mental health symptoms should introduce to their diet.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 fatty acids, such as those found in
krill oil
, are excellent for the brain. These fatty acids have been reported to decrease aggression and irritability, stabilize mood and prevent psychosis.
Chelated Magnesium
The pituitary gland needs magnesium in order to regulate the hormones that control adrenaline. Too much adrenaline in the body can result in irregular heartbeat, severe anxiety, insomnia, mania and depression. Those who are deficient in this mineral are at increase risk of committing suicide. Adding a
chelated magnesium supplement
to the diet can reverse these affects and stabilize both body and mind.
Vitamin D
The Vitamin D Council has noted that evidence of mental illness has increased as humans exposure to the sun has decreased. Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies in the US. This deficiency has been linked to depression, autism, brain abnormalities and schizophrenia as well as a host of physical diseases. Before taking a vitamin D supplement, have your blood levels tested by a trusted healthcare provider to determine how much of the supplement you need.