You Think What You Eat: How Nutrition Impacts Your Mental Health
No matter how many times we hear the phrase, “You are what you eat”, it never stops ringing true -- and never fails to make us think twice about our current diets. But more often than not, when we talk about nutrition in our society, we tend to focus too much on the body-image side of the equation. We forget that the imperative to kickstart more healthy eating and living habits is fundamentally about our mental and physical health.
Think of it this way: food is comprised of nutrients that break down to create the energy we need to get us through our day. But more than just energy, our ability to do well relies on how well our brains can actually process how to tackle the day ahead. And why wouldn’t the food we eat affect how our brain is functioning?
There’s some food for thought.
You Think What You Eat: How Nutrition Impacts Your Mental Health
One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.- Virginia Woolf
Our mental and physical health is as affected by our diets as our views and values are shaped by our experiences. What is the exact connection between nutrition and mental health?
What makes up our food determines how well a brain can carry out its duties -- aka helping you think. Mental health affects your ability to make rational decisions, function in everyday life, and form just perceptions of the world. It's important to clarify that “mental health” and “mindset” are not the same thing. A mindset is based off your own personal beliefs and dictates why you make certain choices. Mental health contributes to the ability to make a choice in the first place.
Here’s how mental health comes into the picture
The truth is not only that what you eat impacts how you think and perform, but also that nutrition and mental health directly influence each other.
It’s proven that dietary patterns impact the quality of your mental health and mind. For instance, after you eat a fillet of salmon with vegetables vs. a greasy burger, do you feel your mood stagnate or improve? Does the ability to make sound decisions come naturally, or with struggle? What about your inclination to absorb new information, is it easy or difficult?
Take amino acids, for example, the essential component that builds protein. The brain requires the supply of amino acids and protein to foster the development of neurotransmitters that communicate signals throughout the nerves to the body. Without a proper amount in our blood stream, our brains would function at a much slower rate and will be unable to help us perform at our best.
If you're have difficulty concentrating, you definitely need to ramp up your consumption of antioxidants and fatty acids. Your brain is 60% fat! It needs regulatory utilization of fatty acids to keep the gears rolling and maintain the integrity of a brain's cell walls. Therefore, you need to continuously promote brain optimality by consuming what makes it properly function in the first place.
A well-fed and clear-thinking brain will then help you make the right choices in turn, in favour of more wholesome and nutritious foods, creating a virtuous cycle.
Food for thought: The mind-body connection
When we speak about nutrition, we all know that eating unhealthily puts you at risk for diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular diseases. But eating processed food also contributes to brain damage, the development of mental illnesses, and even heavily interferes with cognitive ability.
The brain damage comes from digesting too many trans fats that slowly destroy neuronal communication. Mental illnesses, on the other hand, are developed from a nutrient deficiency in the amino acid tryptophan, which contributes to creating an overall sense of well-being. A lack of tryptophan, therefore, offsets your brain's healthy chemical balance and makes you vulnerable to depression. Lastly, the lack of proper cognitive abilities like learning and memory take a serious hit from junk food, which is often high in refined sugars and low in key vitamins and nutrients.
Fuel your brain to be the best that you can be
You get one body in this life, and you need to treat it well! Taking care of it means not only exercising and pampering yourself, but caring about what you eat every day and paying attention to how your mind works. Sometimes, the reason why we don’t feel at our best can be solved with a simple solution: eat right -- with no excuses!
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.