They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but as it turns out, it might be the way to a healthy mind as well.
Aussie foodie and mental health advocate Judy Phillips has teamed up with the Black Dog Institute to re-release her book ‘Good Life Great Good: Recipes for Loving and Sharing’ – a handbook to mood-boosting meals. What’s sweeter is she’s donating all the proceeds to Black Dog so they can continue their incredible work.
1 in 5 Australians aged 16 – 85 will experience a mental illness in any one year, and while a balanced diet can do wonders to improve your well-being, it’s obviously not a magic cure. That said, here are Phillips’ seven fave foods to treat your body right:
1. Yogurt
The creamy white stuff’s chockablock full of probiotics which help keep your tummy happy and healthy. In a recent study, anxious lab mice who were fed yogurt settled down a bit. “There is growing literature showing a strong correlation between gut health and mental well-being,” says Phillips.
2. Avocado
As if you needed another excuse to order that smashed avo for brunch (here’s a list of our fave joints Aus-wide if you need some inspiration) they’re rich in monounsaturated fats (the good ones) which help the blood flow to your brain.
3. Beetroot
You can beat an egg, but you can’t beat a root. A beetroot, that is.
“Like broccoli, beetroot is high in folic acid as well as fibre, manganese and potassium,” says Phillips.
Folic acid acts by helping the body produce and maintain new cells – an important part of keeping healthy.
4. Apple
According to researchers at Cornell University, the chemicals found in apples and their skins can help protect the delicate neurons in ya brain.
5. Salmon
Salmon features heavily in forever-celebrated Mediterranean diets, and it’s no mystery why.
You’ll find a tonne of Omega-3 in salmon. It’s easy to prepare, can be done quite a few ways and will leave you feeling full.
6. Broccolini
The folic acid strikes again with broccolini. It’s full of it and has other mood, energy and sleep regulating benefits.
7. Chicken
Alright, so obviously not in the nugget life form.
Protein is pretty integral in a healthy, happy brain, and chicken is an easy option to get your protes fix. The cooking options are endless.
8. Eggs
‘Cos eggs are the friggen tits.
“Mental illness is best handled with the support of family, friends, and professionals, but there are also small steps individuals can take to encourage a happy, healthy mind, and one of those is eating mood-boosting foods and enjoying them in good company,” says Phillips.
Source: Judy Phillips Cooking.
Photo: @pantryno7 / Instagram.
