Many people don't want to come to therapy. Many people don't want to take medication. While I believe that both of these resources will be available for a long time, most people don't realize that they can reduce their need for both.
Taking care of our bodies, has a direct impact on taking care of our brains and our mental health. One little known fact is that, in order for our brains to function at an optimal level, they need two things: protein and healthy fats. People will almost always notice an improvement in their mental functioning, their energy level and their overall well being if they simply give our brains what they need.
How much protein does a brain need? The answer is: 8 grams of protein for every 20 pounds of body weight. A 100 pound person, would need 40 grams of protein per day, a 150 pound person needs 60 grams and a 200 pound person needs 80 grams of protein per day just to keep our brains functioning well. Most of us know that eating meat is an efficient way to gain protein. Luckily, there are many plant-based alternatives: nuts, beans, legumes, soy can all be great sources to add protein to a diet. Many of you have also discovered that Greek yogurt generally carries twice as much protein as regular with no increase in calories.
Healthy fats are another essential to your brain. Healthy fats include things like olive oil, canola oil and coconut oil. 1-2 Tablespoons per day is all it takes, and is an easy item to add to any diet.
I encourage all of you to pay attention to your brain health and give it what it needs!
Until next time -
Lynne
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