When you think of health and wellness, what comes to mind?
Your healthy living outlook might relate to the foods you are eating, such as your fresh and organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Having compassion for animals and eating grass-fed organic meats and poultry might also be part of your lifestyle.
What about other areas of your health?
Your health also includes your mind or mental health, and your mental health is a major component with how you treat people in the world. Having a positive mental attitude is often related to how you treat people.
When people are balanced with mind and body, they treat people with respect and compassion because they value themselves. They value themselves by eating healthy foods, exercising on a regular basis, and honoring their body when they are sick. They don’t only heal their body, but they also focus on their mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
They might be open to try new things, and when they want to heal, they will discover natural alternatives such as naturopathic doctors, homeopathic practitioners, chiropractors, and other forms of natural medicine. They will be open to trying alternative and spiritual exercises such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, or qigong.
The Connection Between Unhealthy Foods and Your Mental Health
There are some people who would argue that the unhealthy foods you eat don’t affect your mood and mental capacity. Many people eat just to get something in their systems, and they will consume anything, from the burger and fries at the fast food restaurants to their favorite meaty and greasy toppings on a pizza.
I have noticed how people act after eating a big greasy meal. Often they are sluggish, lazy, and overall not in a good mood. They may even scream, yell, and have an overall negative outlook on the world and life.
I have family members that would fall under this type of diet. When they don’t care about themselves, it’s very difficult to care about other people in a compassionate and respectful manor. This is because when you lack the proper nutrients, this results in a reduction of your mental function as well.
The right combination of nutrients is very important for your mental health. A typical fast food diet lacks the quality carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals your body needs, and can result in depression, aggression, decreased energy, memory loss, and paranoia. Great sources of your essential nutrients include whole grains, brewer’s yeast, blackstrap molasses, egg yolks, legumes (beans and lentils), nuts, seeds, mushrooms, broccoli, and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamins
Deficiencies in omega-3, omega-6, magnesium, essential amino acids, and healthy carbohydrates are essential for your mental health. Many B vitamins relate to mental health, including B1, B3, B6, folic acid (B9), and choline, which is an unofficial B vitamin. The winter months and holiday season do produce a lot of angry and stressful people. There may be several factors for the high-stress winter months, and a lack of sunlight is one of them. There is less sunlight in the winter, so your body gets less natural vitamin D, which supports a healthy mood.
When people don’t have the proper nutrients, is it any wonder why they treat people with disrespect and view the world with a glass half-full point of view?
How Respect Relates to Stress
How you treat people can also stress you out and puts stress on your body as well. There is research indicating that positive thinking reduces stress and mental health.
The other side of the coin would indicate that an angry and negative outlook on life and toward people would increase stress, cause depression, and deeply affect your body and overall health.
Solution: Treat People With Love And Gratitude
What is the solution for overall quality health? Treat people with respect by showing them love and gratitude with a positive outlook on life. This is a process and it will take practice to have a positive mental attitude toward life. A gratitude journal is a good way to get into a gratuitous state of mind which also helps you look at people differently and with more respect.
Healthy living with eating well and getting proper exercise will help put you in the right frame of mind; however, everyone is unique and it is up to them to make positive changes in their lives and discover what works for them.
It is with my deepest love and gratitude that everyone explores their emotional, mental, spiritual, and not just physical health, so they experience healthy living and an overall optimal and quality life.
Namaste (The Spirit within me bows to the Spirit in you)!
Sources:
Murray, M., N.D., et al, The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (New York: Atria Paperback, 2012), 34-35.
“Can food make you angry?” The Guardian web site; http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/apr/24/can-food-make-you-angry, last accessed Jan. 10, 2014.
Collingwood, J., “The Relationship Between Mental and Physical Health,” Psych Central web site; http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-relationship-between-mental-and-physical-health/0002949, last accessed Jan. 10, 2014.
Grohol, J., “The Connection Between Mental & Physical Health,” Psych Central web site; http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/02/25/the-connection-between-mental-physical-health/, last accessed Jan. 10, 2014.
