Tips for good mental health

Healthy nutrition and sufficient exercise have a positive effect on your physical health. We all understand that. But what about your mental health? How important is it, and how do you stay mentally healthy?

What is mental health?

When we think about health, we often immediately consider physical health. Healthy eating, exercise and sports, the right vitamins, and taking it easy on harmful substances like alcohol, smoking, and drugs. We are getting older, want to enjoy life for a long time, and therefore take care of our bodies.

But in addition to physical health, we also talk about mental health. This refers to the health of the mind. Think about feeling good about yourself, being positive and energetic in life, and being able to deal well with stress or negativity.

Mental health issues include symptoms such as worrying, feeling lethargic, and negativity, up to burnout and depression.

Healthy body = healthy mind

Good physical and mental health may have more in common than you might think. The points in the list below are all supported by research.

• Research increasingly shows that nutrition and mood are closely connected. If you eat a lot of unhealthy food, the chances are higher that you won't feel good about yourself.
• Endorphins (the 'happiness hormone') are produced by laughing and love, but also by sunlight and exercise. Excessive stress can disrupt hormone balance.
• Stress releases cortisol and adrenaline. Not a big problem in the short term, but with chronic stress, it can cause, among other things, a shortage of magnesium (4).
• Chronic stress can also lead to physical complaints such as back pain (5), headaches (6), and acne (7).
• Feeling tired or lethargic? It may sound contradictory, but exercising and moving are the best solution to get more energy (8).
• Physical exercises in mindfulness, yoga, and meditation have a proven positive effect on mental well-being (9).