Mind

Our wellbeing is not only affected by what we eat
but by 'what's 'eating us'. 

 

Mind and body are inseparable and unmanaged stress can derail even the best nutrition programs.

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There is a dramatic and powerful connection between our mind and body. Stress doesn't happen to us but rather it's a function of how we interpret events. Our thoughts and the health of our mind have a huge impact on the health of our body. Anger, resentment and fear all compromise our immune system and can make us ill. Stress hormones damage the hippocampus, the memory centre in the brain, causing memory loss and dementia.

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We are seeing an epidemic of stress-related disorders in our society including depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder and a host of others. Unfortunately, these disorders are making the pharmaceutical industry highly profitable. Antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro are now the third most widely prescribed group of drugs in the United States. More than ten percent of Americans now take antidepressants and those who don't, use substances like caffeine, sugar, alcohol or nicotine to manage their moods.     

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In school, we are all taught how to read and write. It's a pity we didn't learn how to use our minds to keep us happy and healthy.

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The good news is, it's never too late to change our beliefs and attitudes and thus their effects on our mind and body. We can change the way we interpret events and we can use techniques such as relaxation, meditation, deep breathing and exercise to 'de-stress'.

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However, our beliefs, attitudes and interpretations aren't the only things that matter. Our mind and brain function are also influenced by what happens in our bodies. As important as our state of mind is,  the effects of imbalances in our body on our mental state and brain function are just as important and cannot be ignored. Our hormones, immune system, energy system and nutritional status all affect our moods and the way we interpret our world.

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