How to Improve Mental Health Through Proper Diet and Nutrition

Every aspect of our day-to-day life is controlled and guided by the workings of the mind. On average, if a person is asked to introspect about what constitutes ‘good health’ and the measures one should take to maintain the same, the answer would invariably be linked to being physically and mentally sound. But unfortunately, the mind and its upkeep are often ignored during such deliberations. This is a highly ironic situation since the most fundamental aspect of a healthy body is a strong mind, and the real focus should be on how to improve mental health.

Mental health is a state of being, which leads to contentment and tranquillity of the mind. It is an absolute requisite for one’s overall health. A good mental health can be built when one is emotionally and psychologically stable and at peace with oneself. Our mind is a fascinating phenomenon; once tamed through the achievement of pure mental health, there is nothing that it cannot accomplish. However, if it is abused and neglected, it can prove to be one’s most prominent foe.

IS AGE JUST A NUMBER?

We have all, at some point in our life, heard the above phrase. When looked at from a purely pragmatic point of view, one is sure to agree with the statement because ageing is a natural process that everyone must go through. However, ageing becomes a more significant aspect while introspecting mental health conditions. Our mind may be equalled to a machine or an instrument that works tirelessly right from the moment we are born. It is thus a reasonable assumption that over time, this machine is bound to suffer from certain ‘wear & tear’, which in the case of the mind means that it slows down with age.

In such a vulnerable situation, the mind then becomes more prone to severe mental health disorders with age. This is not just a hypothesis. It has been proved by the World Health Organization that mental health conditions such as dementia and depression are likely to occur more among the aged populations.

WE ARE WHAT WE EAT

Food is the primary element that helps us to sustain good health. In fact, we are all aware of the indispensable role that food and nutrition play in the healthy development of our mind and body. The most commonly known practices for the improvement of mental health include meditation, getting adequate sleep, engaging in hobbies, etc. However, recently the focus has been shifting towards exploring the interrelation between one's diet and mental health.

The growing emphasis on it has even led to a new discipline being evolved, named ‘Nutritional Psychiatry’. Researchers have suggested that maintaining a proper diet has a direct impact on how one feels mentally. There is a very detailed scientific explanation for this correlation that can be surmised as follows:

The food we eat eventually reaches our gastrointestinal tract, which has been named the ‘second brain’.
The bacteria that reside in this tract affect the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters are responsible for our mood, and thereby our mental health.
Consuming healthy and nutritious foods leads to the growth of bacteria, which in turn, accelerates the production of neurotransmitters that are good for the brain.

As evidenced above, food and nutrition are critical elements of the holistic process of improving mental health. Contrary to a widespread belief, the process of attaining mental health through foods does not require the inclusion of any exotic and rare foods in one’s diet. Often, the most common and readily available foods are the ones that are densely packed with essential nutrients. To cite a few examples:

Spinach contains folic acid, which helps prevent depression.
Whole grains alleviate tendencies of anxiety.
Tomatoes are a source of nutrients that help the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, etc.

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF FOOD

When we say food affects and contributes towards improving mental health, we are, in essence, referring to the specific nutrient content of the foods, such as the vitamins and minerals. It is these vitamins that need to be incorporated into one's diet for the mind to work at its optimal capacity. While all vitamins have something positive to contribute towards our overall health, some are targeted specifically toward the attainment of sound mental health:

Vitamin B6- It is said to help produce energy that is needed for the genesis of new brain cells, thus leading to a healthy mind.
Vitamin B9- This vitamin is more commonly known as folate or folic acid. It contributes towards the breakdown of certain elements, which may lead to Alzheimer’s or depression.
Vitamin B12- It is regarded as an extremely necessary nutrient for the mind as it aids in the transportation of neurotransmitters. This vitamin is also known to sedate the mental decline that occurs with age and prevents depressive tendencies.
Vitamin D3- This vitamin is known to interact with receptors and helps in carrying out certain vital brain functions. It contributes towards the overall health of the brain and thus reduces the risk of mental health problems.

While nature has brilliantly provided these essential components through food, the body often needs one or more of these in a higher concentration, which cannot be procured from foods. For such cases, vitamin supplements are the best possible solution. Following an increasing demand for such products, many pharmaceuticals and other companies have started manufacturing vitamin supplements. A notable name in this area of expertise is ZIM Laboratories, a highly accredited & EU-GMP Certified company.

We manufacture technology-based vitamins and other supplements that denote the highest quality standards and are hence often prescribed by medical practitioners. Experts at ZIM Laboratories aim to create effective and affordable drug delivery solutions. More information on the products available and being developed at ZIM Laboratories can be found at https://www.zimlab.co.in/product.

Mental health, as a concept, may be compared to an intricate and delicate web of several fine strings attached. When even one part of these strings is displaced from its intended position, the web gets affected. Similarly, mental health is a sensitive and highly susceptible principle that needs to be guarded and protected from negative interferences. Apart from consciously including healthy foods in our everyday diet, vitamin supplements have now become a widely accepted and well-received addition to one's healthcare regime.

About ZIM Laboratories

ZIM Labs is an innovative drug delivery solution provider focusing on improving patient convenience and adherence to drug intake. We offer a range of technology-based drug delivery solutions and non-infringing proprietary manufacturing processes for the production and supply of innovative and differentiated generic pharmaceutical products to our customers globally. At ZIM Labs we provide our customers a comprehensive range of value-added solid dosage differentiated generic products in semi-finished and finished categories/formulations. These include granules, pellets (sustained, modified, extended-release), taste-masked powders, suspensions, tablets, capsules, and recently developed Oral Thin Films (OTF).