Why I Choose Food to Manage my Mental Wellness

Who still has PTSD from covid? Let me tell you my story:

My kids were five and 18 months when we entered lock down and the feelings of absolute despair are still visceral for me even three years later.

With both my kids and my husband all present in our small home juggling a clingy toddler, virtual learning and working from home, I felt like I lived on a virtual emotional roller coaster- my mood swang from the depths of depression to intense rage and the desperation for solitude. Add to that, layoffs and financial strain, I felt hopeless and helpless.

As our circumstances changed and the world opened up, albeit slowly, I still struggled to feel joy. In January of 2021 I decided to take control and got super regimented about my diet and moving my body. By Easter I felt amazing. Then I got covid and spent a week in the hospital with pneumonia (I took this picture the day before I was admitted).

Four months of hard work wiped out by a virus and 5 days of steroids. All my good and healthy gut bacteria: gone. And once again, I fell into a depression that lasted through the rest of the year…made worse by my own diet choices and red wine

So here I was again, January of 2022, choosing to regain control. Again. This time I decided to add more education into the mix. This began my FASCINATION with how food affects our mood and how we can gain control of our emotional stability with the right foods. I learned that we can’t always control our circumstances, but we CAN control what we put in our body, increasing our ability to react positively to our circumstances- aka whiny children and needy husbands JK I love them both…most if the time .

So what did I find? One of the leading causes of depression and anxiety- SUGAR (and this is relevant to kids too)! Sugar is hidden in so many things, like wine and salad dressings. So you don’t have to be downing candy bars and ice cream to experience the effects of sugar.

Studies have found:

• The consumption of added sugars has been associated with increased blood pressure and inflammation, which have both been linked to depression.

• High sugar diets can lead to rapid blood sugar spikes and crashes, leading to fluctuating hormone levels and mood states.

• The addiction-like effects of sugar on dopamine (the pleasure and reward chemical in the brain) levels might connect frequent sugar intake with depression.

Changing your diet can have a profound effect on your physical and mental health. For many people, eliminating inflammatory foods like process and artificial sweeteners can boost mental wellness. Start small by cutting out processed candy and packaged baked goods and replacing with fresh fruit.

You can view all my “sugar swaps” here!

Xoxo- Whit

*this post and website is not intended to offer medical advice.