Can Diet Prevent Symptoms Of Depression ?
Physical condition and mental attitude are directly linked to
the way a person thinks, feels, and acts. Both are equally
important. The physical side is influenced by the mental side
and vice versa. When one of the two is weak, difficulties ensue.
This is the reason why one's physique must be healthy with a
positive mental disposition. This condition is called for not
only to cure anxiety, but also in almost all other situations in
life to handle whatever is thrown along the way.
The Importance of Water
Aside from the air we breathe, water is one of the primary
sources of life. Water is accessible, abundant, and inexpensive,
making it very versatile. It is one substance where the beauty
of nature is in harmony with all living creatures.
Without doubt, water is the one of the main ingredients in
relieving stress and anxiety. Even the human body is made vastly
of water. Water transports and distributes nutrients, hormones,
and various chemicals present in the human body to its various
vital organs.
It is like a delivery truck that drops off the essential
substances where they should be or where the body needs them to
be. Dehydration, which is the lack of water in the body,
disturbs the delivery system resulting to pile-ups and
shortages. We can interpret this unbalanced flow as something
similar to anxiety.
While it can be interpreted that drinking other fluids is a
replacement for water, water remains to be the best choice. If a
person is not accustomed to regular water intakes and prefers
something else due to its taste, he can slowly and gradually
increase substituting these fluids with plain water. In time,
the person will choose water over any other fluids.
The flushing effect of water cleanses the body of toxins, so it
is vitally important to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
The more you perspire, the more water you should drink.
If one has to discover life on another planet or any unknown
body in the universe, one of the most important signs being
looked for is water. The other one is most likely to be the
presence of oxygen in its atmosphere, which is why water is
indispensable.
The Importance of Healthy Food
Aside from water or fluids that a person needs for his physical
health, solid food or food in general is the other part of one's
diet that needs looking into. Again, this is where moderation
plays a major role in keeping one's body fit and healthy.
Practice good eating habits. By following the Food Guide
Pyramid, you can get all the vitamins, minerals, and most
nutrients needed by your body.
Trying to keep track of our eating habits can be difficult for
some of us due to the fast-paced stressful life that we lead. We
can't find the time to monitor what we eat. Unconsciously, we
tend to consume food that is available in the fastest manner.
Many of the foods in this group (the fast foods) have high fat
content.
An unbalanced diet can lead to acidity. This tends to raise the
stress level, making many people more susceptible to anxiety and
panic attacks. To counteract this activity, alkaline-based foods
must be taken to balance the pH level in the body.
How would you know if your body's pH level is balanced? I
believe most of us know about the 80-20 rule. Based on this
concept, it is stated that if a fairly fit person makes healthy
eating choices 80% of the time (consuming higher calorie foods),
the other 20% of the time usually won't be a problem.
Translating this to the amount of food taken each meal using
the 80-20 principle, 80% amount of food in the grain,
vegetables, and fruits groups, and 20% in the other food groups
like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and sparingly on
fats and sweets, is quite ideal.
Another way to determine an internally balanced pH is by feel.
Each time a meal is taken, depending on your metabolism (which
has something to do with age and activity), you can more or less
determine the comfortable level of stuffy feel in the stomach.
A person may be full after a meal but still feels light, due to
alkaline-based foods. A person may feel full or heavy despite
eating moderate amounts because of acidic foods. Though it is
possible that other factors may determine how a person perceives
feelings in the stomach, this is a fairly accurate gauge of
measuring the pH balance.