We all know what we eat affects our bodies, but have you ever wondered how food can also affect your mood? Research suggests that vegan food can play an important role in helping how we feel mentally and emotionally. As it turns out, being vegan isn’t just for animal rights activists. Vegan food and a plant-based diet can provide anyone with tons of nutrients to balance our moods and boost our overall quality of life.
Get Those Antioxidants
Go for the Good Carbohydrates
Don’t Underestimate the Ultimate Good Mood Food
Strive for Healthy Digestion
Eat Smart to Prevent Disease
According to Caldwell Esselstyn Jr., M.D., author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure, the primary cause of most diseases, especially heart disease, is a harmful diet, which includes dairy, eggs, and meat. A great way to prevent disease is what he calls “whole-foods, plant-based” eating, which in many ways parallels a vegan diet. Consider that when we eat vegan food, not only can we improve our mood, but we also have a much better chance of preventing a life threatening illness and the distress that can come with it. Do not live to eat, eat to live – happily.
Whether you are a vegan, a vegetarian, or an omnivore, learn to prioritize your emotional health. If you struggle with feeling down or disinterested, keep a daily log of what you eat in relation to your mood, and review whether you are using the best fuel for your body. A permanent fix may be as simple as a change in diet!
Do you think your mood is affected by your diet? If you are a vegan, do you think you are generally happier or feel more balanced than you did before you transitioned? Please share your experiences in the comments, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Coco says
I’m vegetarian but usually eat vegan. I typically eat healthy, colorful raw foods, and I feel great. But I’ll also go through times where I eat out a lot, or eat more processed foods, which translates to more bread, more dairy, more egg, etc., and I definitely notice a difference in my mental state- I don’t feel as alert, and it seems I’m more prone to periods of depression when I eat this way. It’s validating and motivating to read research behind it, thank you!