How we eat, sleep, and exercise profoundly affects every aspect of our lives. Not only do these habits determine our physical health, but they also affect our cognitive function and emotional wellbeing. If we develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle, we benefit in a multitude of ways.

But how do we create good habits?

First, I think it is helpful to fully understand why we are making a lifestyle change. Eating well and exercise is about more than how thin and attractive our bodies look to us. If this is our only motivation, then we are unlikely to make healthy changes and stick to them.

Below are a few very good reasons why we should make changes and bring our bodies back into balance.

Exercise and cognitive function

More and more evidence is emerging that indicates exercise has significant benefits for the brain. Professor Wendy Suzuki discovered exercise has both immediate and long term effects on our ability to learn and form long term memories. She also discovered an astounding increase in physical energy. So rather than reach for coffee before sitting down at your desk, think about going for a run, doing yoga or incorporating a workout routine into your day to increase your productivity level.

Exercise also releases feel-good endorphins naturally. The flood of neurochemicals improves mood and as a result, exercise is an effective strategy that helps with depression.

The effects of exercise are so immediate and noticeable you can try your own experiment. After talking with your doctor about beginning an exercise program, give it a try and pay attention to the changes in how you feel.  A single workout will increase endorphins in the brain. Over time, energy levels will increase and without your daily exercise, you will likely feel like something is missing.

How nutrition affects your mood

Studies consistently demonstrate that what we eat has an impact on our mood. This is because our brain needs the availability of essential vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats to create the optimal neural chemistry to function well.

A recent study measured the effects of a diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and healthy fat’s led to a reduction of symptoms in participants who were struggling with depression

Contrarily, a study investigating the effects of a diet with high levels of processed food and refined carbohydrates and saturated fat was linked to poorer mental health in adolescents.

Although the link between what we eat and how we feel may not be obvious, we now know our brain needs the right nutrients to function optimally.

Sleep and your nervous system

Not sleeping enough has serious implications for your overall wellbeing, especially if it becomes a lifestyle habit. Over time, insufficient sleep has a range of consequences. We lose our ability to focus and think clearly. We have difficulty forming and retaining short and long-term memories. Emotional upsets occur more easily when we don’t sleep and in general, we are operating on fewer resources.

Our body needs enough sleep for healing and rejuvenation. When sleep deprivation becomes a habit over the lifespan, we are more likely to develop chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

In order to feel good emotionally and enjoy clarity in our thinking, we need to make sleep a top priority.

How pets can help

Researchers have discovered owing a pet has beneficial effects on our physical and emotional health. In a large study, conducted with 5000 participants, it was found that those with pets had lower blood pressure and lower blood fat levels in comparison to those without pets.

The are many benefits of having a pet, especially a dog because dogs encourage us to go outside and get exercise. In addition to getting us moving, they offer unconditional love, companionship, and support.

The take-home message

Your physical health has a great impact on your mental and emotional health. If you are suffering from anxiety, depression, chronic stress, or any other mental health issue, as part of your therapeutic program, seriously consider making healthy changes to your lifestyle. These changes will help in an indirect way and help bring you to a speedier recovery.

In addition to seeking help with a therapist, take care of your body as well.

If you would like to learn more you are welcome to call and book your first appointment or fill out my contact form and click Send.

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