Hamish and Kyle – On the impact of the food we eat on our mental health

In this web series, psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald and Nutters Club co-host Hamish Williams take a look at mental health and how to navigate some of the most challenging parts of modern life. Today they look at the impact of diet and the foods we eat on our mental health.

Chances are you’ve had a day in your life that required you to reach for a certain type of food to ease the challenges of a difficult day.

I like to call it homemade prozac and specifically because it’s likely to include cheese, stuffed peppers, pistachios, a cheese crust pizza with meat and bacon topping and some ice cream of the cookies and cream variety.

I know none of that is particularly good for my waistline, but some days I have an overwhelming urge to eat the things that I know will make me feel better.

But why?

“The most important aspect of understanding food and its connection to our mental health is that it influences mood,” explains Kyle McDonald. “Often we only think about how food is connected to its physical effects on us, like weight, but one that we really need to be aware of is how it makes you feel.”

It seems that one of the biggest enigmas of life is that the food that makes us happy does not make our body happy, but that is the reality that we have to learn to deal with.

“It’s a short-term hit when we eat those comfort foods like alcohol or even drugs. That’s why those foods can be called an addiction,” McDonald says. “The short-term hit from high-sugar, high-fat foods can be a great feeling, but then there’s the crash that comes after.”

Shock is not always pleasant and can potentially make us irritable with ourselves and with others. Translation: you may not be the most pleasant person to be with.

“The challenge is recognizing the difference between appetite, the food that fuels our bodies, and what is a craving,” explains McDonald. “A good way to find out may be to track what you’re eating and when, as well as what mood you’re feeling at the time.”

Basically it is about being responsible with ourselves and seeing if we can find the patterns of behavior that are useful and those that are not.

Of course, it can be the other way around, and sometimes people find that for reasons related to their mental health, they stop eating altogether.

“A symptom of moodiness, depression or just stress can be not eating at all. If you experience that, then the important thing is any kind of food for basic sustenance. If it continues, you better see your GP McDonald advises. .

Since food is such an important part of our daily lives, it pays to think about what we eat in the same way that we should think about how all of our daily actions affect our mental health. What does your menu tell you about yours? Maybe it’s time to chew on that.