Mental Health Awareness; What no one’s talking about!

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Mental Health Awareness  

This week was Bell “Let’s Talk Day” (Canada) to raise awareness around mental illness and end the shame that many individuals face.

By now I’m sure most of us are well aware of this issue for one reason or another, but what no one seems to be talking about is how to better address this ever growing epidemic.  This is affecting everyone from young children to teens and seniors too.

Most individuals dealing with depression are prescribed medications and often receive counselling of some sort. Medications often make things worse for many people and counselling can only go so far if you don’t address other very important contributing causes such as proper nutrition and lifestyle factors.

Most of us think we’re eating healthy diets but if your regular, daily consumption consist of any of the following you are not feeding your brain; saturated fats, fried foods, refined & processed foods, sugars, table salt and excess alcohol, pop and juices (full of sugars). Eating these types of foods and beverages on a regular basis (more than 2 or 3 x p/wk) makes your body and brain malnourished.

Think about it. Your brain is always “on.” It takes care of your thoughts and movements, your breathing and heartbeat, your senses — it works hard 24/7, even while you’re asleep. This means your brain requires a constant supply of fuel. That “fuel” comes from the foods you eat — and what’s in that fuel makes all the difference. Put simply, what you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood.

To make matters worse many adults have lifestyle factors that also greatly contribute to depression and other mental health issues such chronic stress (from jobs, relationships, finances), lack of exercise, lack of sleep and use of medications.

A growing number of teens are having problems dealing with depression and coping with day to day challenges of life. But if we look at most teen’s diets, based on the above, not only are their body’s nutrient deficient but in turn their brains and this greatly affects how they reason, think and deal with stress.  On top of that add the matter of hormone’s surging and, for many of them, imbalances already due to their poor food choices, lack of exercise and excessive exposure to Electro Magnetic Fields.

Wireless communications: This includes wireless power meters (so-called Smart Meters), cell phones, cell towers, wireless routers, and cordless phones. Most of these types of technologies expose you to both electric- and magnetic fields.

Your diet is critically important to and plays an enormous role in your mental health, so please don’t ignore the effect it may be having. There’s no doubt that drastically reducing or eliminating the foods mentioned earlier especially all forms of sugar and artificial sweeteners from your diet is a critical step to prevent and/or address depression and other mental health problems.

At the same time you need to address the following:

  1. Eat a healthy, brain supporting diet
  2. Exercise
  3. Address your stress
  4. Optimize your gut health
  5. Support optimal brain function with healthy fats
  6. Get plenty of sunshine

 

I watched a fantastic children’s movie the other night called “Inside Out”. Even though I don’t have young children at home anymore this is a must watch for any parent of children 5 and older especially teens; Parents should watch this with their kids. This movie addresses emotions we go through in our everyday lives and how sadness is as important as any other and can be dealt with.  You can also watch it here: https://goo.gl/pGcgN1

If you or someone you know is dealing with depression or other mental health issues a holistic approach that includes psychological counselling, nutrition and alternative medicine can be the answer.

References: Health.Harvard.edu – Nutritional psychiatry: Your Brian on food

EMF Freedom.com – Cell phones for children and teens

 

 

Michelle Thibodeau
Michelle Thibodeau is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist having completed a Diploma program in Natural Nutrition at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. She is a Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner with the Canadian Association of Natural Nutritional Practitioners and maintains her registration through annual course work and upgrading requirements. Michelle pursued studies in cancer nutrition and became a Certified Professional Cancer Coach with the National Association of Professional Cancer Coaches in 2012.