Breakfast… To Help Mental Health

Studies show more than a third of Australian adults don't eat breakfast, despite the fact it's proven to improve concentration and help us manage emotions better. Research has shown that eating a nutrient-dense diet reduces your risk of major depressive disorder. On the other hand, diets high in processed foods have been associated with an increased risk of experiencing a lower mood and possibly depressive symptoms Clinical guidelines for the use of lifestyle-based mental health care in major depressive disorder: World Federation of Societies for Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM) taskforce.

Top 3 breakfast tips: 

Enjoy breakfast every day.

1. Make it a habit 

Breakfast eaters tend to be healthier and are more likely to be able to manage their mental health better. The more people skip meals, the more their blood sugar levels decrease, which can lead to poor concentration and lower mood.

2. Add some vegies to the mix 

With most Australians needing 5 serves of vegetables daily including some in your breakfast is a fantastic way to start the day. Tomato, onion, spinach, mushrooms and snow peas are just a few of the many veggies that can help make up a delicious and nutritious breakfast. 

3. Carbs are your friend 

Low GI carbohydrates will help fill you up and also give you dietary fibre — and the less processed, the better. Wholegrain toast, cereal such as porridge, oats or quinoa flakes. Stick to half a cup of cereal, topped with banana or berries and some low-fat milk or yoghurt. If you're feeling like a treat, buckwheat pancakes with berries and yoghurt are delicious, or make a  

smoothie adding linseed, chia seeds and oats to make it more satisfying.