Compassionate Nutrition and Mental Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing is an important part of compassionate nutrition because it is directly connected to the vagus nerve otherwise known as the compassion nerve. The vagus nerve is part of the central nervous system and is in constant communication with the digestive system and the brain. The food that we eat therefore affects not only our digestive system and how it functions, which the vagus nerve is constantly monitoring but will also eventually end up in the bloodstream that nourishes the brain. So the brain is affected by our nervous system our digestive system and our cardiovascular system. If any of these are not working properly it is going to affect the brain, how it functions and our moods or behaviours. Sangle et al (2020) reviewed the literature on just one vitamin deficiency ( B12) and concluded that there was a strong link between nutrient deficiency and mood. They go as far as to say that a deficiency in B12 could be a direct cause of depression as the build-up of homocysteine (an amino acid) causes damage to every cell in the body.

Nourishing the brain is very important for resilience and one of my pillars of resilience is to REPLENISH meaning that we need to make sure we are fueling the body properly so that it can do its job properly. Wound healing, cellular repair and removal, energy production, oxygen transportation, bone and muscle health and toxin removal all need adequate and appropriate nutrients to be effective.

Other pillars of resilience in my 5 a day for Resilience include

RESPIRE – getting more oxygen into the brain not only helps to repair damaged cells but also calms the brain

REST – getting enough sleep gives the brain time to repair itself

REFLECT – meditation or thinking about which nutrients your body need will help you to improve your intake

RELAX – crafting, gardening, walking or exercising all require movement which helps to keep your brain active

The next time you feel low in mood, sluggish, tired or anxious try looking at the foods you can eat and how you can help others to improve their mental wellbeing and resilience too.

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