How Mental Health Affects Physical Health

As the year draws to a close, it’s always a time for reflection. Perhaps more than ever before, this year showed many of us that mental health is closely tied with our routines, habits and lifestyle.

When those were disrupted because of the global pandemic, many of us found ourselves in new routines, often changing beyond our control, alongside a new threat that brought its own fears. And with virtually no notice, our lifestyles were changed in drastic ways.

The good news is that it’s not all gloom and doom. There are many steps you can take to better yourself--even in the midst of extreme stress.

Mental Health and Weight

Worries of isolation, extreme changes in routines, along with the fear and anxiety of the virus itself have culminated into depression and anxiety for many people. Mental health affects how we think, act, and even sleep. And while these alone are struggles to navigate, they also have an impact on our physical health.

Studies have shown that there is a correlation between poor mental health and body composition, with a higher depression and anxiety score associated with increased weight and BMI, among other markers.

Coping With Stress

Coping with stress is the first step to alleviating it, and good coping skills are a huge contributor to overall wellness. Here are some simple healthy coping strategies that can help:

• Know where to get help if you need it. Whether it’s family, friends, or professional mental health providers, have a network of people who you can turn to.
• Take a break from the news. Sometimes too much negative information can be, well... too much. Turn off the news and social media for a while.
• Get outside. While you probably don’t need a scientific fact to know sunshine makes you feel good, the science shows it does! It can even help with Seasonal Affective Disorder.
• Stay connected with others. Make it a point to keep in touch with friends and family, especially when you can’t see them. Make phone calls, send packages and letters. Human connections are extremely valuable to overall well-being.
• Eat a well-balanced diet. The foods we eat impact our moods in a variety of ways and making healthy choices support a healthy lifestyle.

Taking Care of Your Body with Almased 

Knowing physical health is so closely linked with mental health, it’s good to know that Almased helps support a healthy lifestyle in several ways.Serotonin, while not found in food sources, is a critical component to mood and mental health. While serotonin itself isn’t in food, protein foods with tryptophan can act as a precursor to encourage serotonin production in the brain.With amino acids like L-tryptophan (400mg per serving), Almased helps support a healthy sleep, which contributes to healthy moods. Almased is also packed with 27 grams of long-acting protein. This keeps you fuller longer by balancing the levels of the hormones leptin and ghrelin, which regulate appetite.With nutritional support that provides healthy proteins, hormonal support, and appetite management, Almased is the perfect choice to accompany a healthy lifestyle for both physical and mental health.