You know that you’re supposed to be healthy. But every once in a while, you cheat a little: You skip a workout, you eat something that you shouldn’t, you stay out late and have a few too many beers. Doing this stuff once in awhile isn’t the end of the world, but you should be careful. It’s not just your physical health that’s at stake: It’s your mind, too.
Your mind and your body
Study after study has shown the connection between mental health and physical health. Experts now understand that the distinction between mental and physical health is a boundary that exists largely because of our own limitations. While we may not know exactly what makes us think or feel the way that we do, we can see clear connections between things like our foods and our moods, our exercise habits and our mental sharpness, and our sleeping habits and our patience.
We know that poor nutrition can contribute to mental health issues including, but not limited to, depression. We know that regular exercise can not only elevate your mood in the short term, but improve your mental health in the long term. And we know that stress levels that we feel in our heads can manifest as physical illnesses and pains.
All of this means that we need to be smart about how we care for our bodies and, by extension, our minds.
You get out what you put in
“You are what you eat,” as the old saying goes, and there’s some truth to that. Eat junk, and you will think and feel like junk. Eat well, and you’ll feel sharp and happy.
So what does eating well mean? It just means eating lots of whole foods, especially vegetables. You can track macronutrients and even micronutrients if you want, but the simplest way to get what your mind and body crave is to eat lots of unprocessed foods.
And your options don’t end here. Other things that you put in your body matter, too — including supplements such as CBD. Even if you don’t read many CBD review or news sites such as The CBD Insider, you probably have at least heard of CBD. It’s all the rage in the world of wellness these days because it can reduce anxiety levels and help you feel calmer. That’s just another example of how things that you do physically (including ingesting CBD in edible, vape, or tincture form) can affect you mentally.
Keeping it moving
We mentioned earlier that exercise was good for your mental health. But how much exercise do you need?
Experts recommend at least 150 minutes per week. That works out to be just a half-hour per day, five days a week, assuming you want to spread your exercise out more or less evenly. And experts say we can get by with even less than that if our exercise is vigorous enough. So there’s no excuse for not finding a little time to move.
If you really hate your exercise routine, try to find something that will appeal to you more. With so many fun active hobbies out there, you’re sure to find a fit if you keep looking.
Injuries, illness, and treatment
Physical injuries and illnesses can hurt our mental health, experts say. Getting laid up with the flu or losing a summer of swimming to a broken leg can really take it out of us. That’s why it’s important to your mental health (and not just your physical health) to seek out the help of doctors and other medical professionals, say the pros at a healthcare center in Waterbury, CT.
Visits your primary care physician regularly, and don’t delay treatment for injuries and illnesses. “Toughing it out” doesn’t show your mental strength — it just shows your disregard for keeping your mind strong. Care for your body, because it’s the best way to care for your mind.
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