Being mindful of your mental health during quarantine includes what you put into your body.
When it comes to our health, our bodies really are finely-tuned machines. Everything we do, from the activities we engage in, to the energy we output has an effect on our overall health.
One of the biggest contributors to overall health is diet, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that changing our diet can have powerful effects on both physical and mental health.
As I’m sure you know, we are currently in the middle of a global health crisis.
COVID-19 is a threat to our physical health obviously, but it also poses a threat to our mental health. Being stuck indoors for extended amounts of time can take a toll on us. Not exercising or interacting as much as normal can be very detrimental to our mental health, and lead to all kinds of things, from anxiety to depression. The good news: You can help curb those side effects with your diet.
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Certain foods are well known to boost dopamine production in the brain. For those of you who have never seen Legally blond, dopamine is the chemical in the brain that creates happiness. Foods that are high in the amino acid Tyrosine support dopamine production in the brain.
Being under lockdown is bound to create some negative emotions, so counterbalancing that by boosting your dopamine is one way you can try and maintain your sanity during this health crisis.
If you are interested in trying a dopamine diet, just try including the following foods into your daily intake:
Dairy, such as Milk, cheese, greek yogurt, etc
Omega-3 fatty fish like salmon and mackerel
Fruits and vegetables, specifically bananas, berries, watermelon, and papaya
Nuts like almonds and walnuts
Eggs
Oatmeal
Green Tea
Seaweed
Dark Chocolate
I’m sure with all those different types of food you can throw together a meal to keep the entire family happy, both physically and mentally.
Please just remember to be patient with yourself during this time.