We all know that a diet laden with French fries, baked goods and ice cream can lead to obesity, diabetes and a myriad of other health problems as we get older, but did you know that eating junk food everyday will not just pollute your body but also your mind.
Nutritionist, naturopath and herbalist Janella Purcell says depression and anxiety may be signs of an overly acidic system, most often caused by lifestyle choices. The acid-alkaline balance is very important to our overall health and our diet can affect this balance greatly. When this balance is tipped to acidic, minerals are depleted, making the body susceptible to inflammation and associated diseases including mental health disorders.
“One of the best things we can do to correct an overly acid body is to clean up our diet and lifestyle,” Purcell says. “Generally, an alkaline diet will include most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, and seeds and nuts. All melons are alkalizing.”
“If someone is facing depression and knows their diet is playing a role, I recommend supporting the everyday diet through some nutrient-dense supplements, such as aloe vera juice, natural B complex powder, Essential Greens+, natural magnesium and V-Omega3. While wonderful taken separately, together these help to heal the gut and nervous system while flooding the body with antioxidants and nutrition therefore helping the body to become less acidic and inflamed.”
Janella’s Lifestyle Tips for Depression Prevention:
- Make time to nurture yourself. Food and eating isn’t just about fuel. Letting go and allowing it to be a positive and guilt-free experience can be very healing
- Start the day well with a smoothie that contains nutritional support from one or all of Lifestream Aloe Vera Juice, Natural B Complex, Essential Greens+, Natural Magnesium and two V-Omega3 capsules per day
- Exercise moderately and regularly
- Reduce stress. Do what makes you happy, as much as possible
- Practise mindful eating. Eating quickly or insufficient chewing and multi-tasking tend to make us eat too fast and too much, causing oxidative stress. Chewing alkalises food
- Eat more fresh, organic veggies
- Seek out professional help to support you on a journey to wellness that encompasses your physical, emotional and mental health – they impact on each other
Avoid:
- White flour, sugar and heavily refined products including junk foods. Excessive sugar consumption increases blood lactate levels, which is acid-forming
- Chemicals in your food, factory farmed, unsustainable animal products and packaged food. Go organic!
- Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners
- Too much caffeine, especially instant coffee. Organic (and fair trade) is much less acidic
- Processed and refined salt
- Too much alcohol
“In order to have a better chance at being free of that black cloud called depression – keep your body, mind and spirit as healthy as you can, as much as you can,” Purcell says. “Do this by keeping your liver happy so it can aid in the elimination of free radicals; keep your gut clear by regularly detoxing and eating well; exercise, and avoid the things that create acid especially emotional stress.”
Great post! the saying ‘you are what you eat’ couldn’t be more true. Putting good fuel into your body is not only creating a healthy body but a healthy mind too.