Studies have shown that what you eat affects the way you feel. However, there are so many diet plans out there that it is hard to know which diets promote the best physical and mental health. The Paleo diet is rumored to help with weight loss and mood improvement, so I decided to investigate.
The goal of the Paleo diet is to eat food that promotes better digestion. There are millions of neurons in the gut that are responsible for controlling digestion, and these neurons communicate with the brain. Because the brain and gut are in constant communication, factors that affect the brain affect the gut and visa versa. Stress felt by the brain prevents healthy digestion and leads to physical health problems. Unhealthy processed foods cause gut inflammation and lead to poor communication between the gut and the brain, which contributes to depression.
The Paleo Diet is a noniflammatory diet that focuses on providing the body with micronutrients such as cholesterol and probiotics that reduce anxiety. Deficiencies in cholesterol increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the paleo diet helps prevent individuals from experiencing the drug like qualities of food. According to the food reward hypothesis, the brain is equipped to handle a finite amount of stimulation from food. Eating processed food overstimulates pleasure receptors and overwhelms regulatory pathways. This phenomenon causes people to experience the mental highs and crashes of food addiction.
The highs and lows of sugar induced mood swings are avoided in the paleo diet, which results in a more stable and consistent mood. Food is not the only factor in the Paleo Diet that reduces mood inconsistency. Exercise is also a crucial part of a phsycially and mentally healthy lifestyle. Exercise releases endorphins that boost energy and motivation, reduces stress, and helps individuals maintain a healthy body weight. Even walking 20-40 minutes three times a week will reduce symptoms of stress.
Keeping a good, healthy weight not only keeps the body fit and improves mood, but it also gives individuals a sense of confidence. This confidence promotes greater self love that will have a positive influence on all aspects of life. More information on the Paleo diet can be found at the website below. However, the Paleo diet is not the only meal plan that promotes healthy eating. The most important thing is to eat healthily, whether using the Paleo diet or not. Healthy food yields positive results on both the gut and the brain, so fuel your body in a way that will help you be your best.