Eating Well

Eating a healthy diet makes you feel mentally healthier as well as physically healthier. Some foods are better than others and all the information on a balanced diet for physical health applies to mental health as well.

Eating well isn't simply about eating as much as you possibly can, nor is it about gorging yourself with tasty chocolate, it's about eating food that your body can use.

You can find out more information on eating well in our healthy eating pages.

Things to remember:

• Eat regularly throughout the day. Skipping meals leads to low blood sugar, which in turn can lead to low mood and feeling irritable.
• Choose foods that have a low glycaemic index (GI), that means that they will give you energy over a several hours. Sweet foods such chocolate or cakes that have a high glycaemic index give you a quick fix of energy. This wears off pretty fast, often leaving you feeling low. Eating Low GI food would help prevent that roller coaster of highs and lows and stabilise your mood. Low GI foods include grapes, apples, wholemeal bread, high fibre breakfast cereal and brown rice.
• Have some protein with every meal as it contains a substance called tryptophan which can help with keeping you in good mood.
• Drink lots of water (rough guide - seven glasses per day) as being dehydrated can make you feel irritable and restless.
• Eating a good variety of healthy food ensures you get a wide variety of all the vitamins and nutrients that you need for keeping fit both physically and mentally.

 Also have a look at the Mental Health Foundation's My Dish site, where you can find lots of good healthy recipes.

Exercising

Exercise can lift your mood and help you feel good about yourself. When you exercise you release endorphins in the body which help you feel relaxed and happy. If you exercise outside you get some sunshine and fresh air which also helps your mood. It also helps you look better and can increase your self-esteem. Doing group exercise or joining a team can lead you to meet new people and friends, great if you have been feeling a bit isolated.

Exercise helps you sleep better, gives you more energy and makes you feel less tense. There are lots of different forms of exercise, you don’t necessarily have to join a gym or be a member of a team. 
 

More

Young Scot WOW - If you are looking for something to do, whether exercise or a trip to the theatre to take your mind off things, have a look at Young Scot WOW, it lists what's on where throughout Scotland.

Take Life On- If you want some simple steps towards becoming more healthy and active then this is the website for you.

Active Nation-  Get some top tips, set some goals and get advice from this website too!