You’ve probably heard the term garbage in-garbage out. When it comes to food that’s accurate. Consider the Standard American Diet (SAD) which is full of sugar and processed foods. Not only is that diet a poor choice for one’s physical health but mental health as well. It is literally making people sad!
Nourish the Brain and Body
Consider all the things that we eat and drink. When we recognize that all of our organs and tissues and everything in the body is made up of macronutrients and micronutrients and water and oxygen and energy, the better quality food or macronutrients or micronutrients or water we consume will produce a better quality output. This results in improved mood and cognitive function.
To nourish the brain with high-quality nutrients we should choose foods rich in healthy fats, B vitamins and magnesium like wild caught fish, pasture raised eggs, olives, avocado, raw nuts and seeds, leafy greens and legumes. We also should consider nourishing our friendly flora who live in our GI tract.
The Power of Probiotics
As probiotics, those live microorganisms that are considered good “bugs” are thought to not only improve overall health but mental health, consider eating foods rich in these. Such foods include
- Coconut Kefir
- Kimchi
- Sauerkraut
- Tempeh
- Miso
- Fermented Pickles
Small Changes Can Pay Big Dividends
Nutrition and health aren’t black and white so if someone with anxiety decided to eat less sugar today and drink more water, then they would be helping themselves. It’s not necessary to full-on overhaul your diet to see results. Small changes can make a big difference. It is all about forward motion.
Our Functional Nutrition Approach
As a functional nutritionist, Gabrielle focuses on the individual, not the illness. She will look at not just the food you eat, but also how active you are, your environment and lifestyle habits. Symptoms are the clues used to diagnose your health problems including depression.
“Once we identify the root causes of your issue, we will develop a customized plan to help restore function to your body’s physiology,” she said. Gabrielle will address your unique needs to stimulate healing from a cellular level.
To best serve her clients who are dealing with depression, Gabrielle sometimes works in conjunction with a team of support practitioners such as therapists or counselors as often many heads are better than one. Becoming part of a positive community and identifying your purpose also can help to address depression.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for functional nutrition.