Take the Resilience Quiz

Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all!

The Resilient Diet | Vegetables on a table

The Resilient Diet

nutrition Dec 30, 2019

 

Adjusting your eating habits is one of the simplest ways to naturally improve your mental health. Because you are already eating and drinking things every day to fuel your body and mind, you don't need to add anything new to your routine. Instead, focus on making changes and adjustments to your diet to ensure you are nourishing your system with foods that promote mental health.

We have created the Resilient Diet to integrate seamlessly into your daily life. It is not a set of restrictive rules or detailed recipes. Instead, the Resilient Diet is made up of six broad guidelines or principles. These principles can guide your nutrition whether you cook for yourself, cook for a family, or don't cook much at all.

The Resilient Diet

PRINCIPLE 1 | Eat whole, natural foods.

Buy unprocessed organic food as much as possible.

PRINCIPLE 2 | Eat a wider variety of foods.

Eat more seasonal and local foods. Discover new kinds of vegetables, grains, meats, nuts, and seeds.

PRINCIPLE 3 | Eat less toxic foods.

Avoid food with chemical additives and purchase organic for high-pesticide fruits and vegetables. Buy hormone-free meat and dairy and avoid certain seafood products.

PRINCIPLE 4 | Eat more brain protective foods.

Look for colorful fruits and vegetables and eat foods high in omega-3 fats.

PRINCIPLE 5 | Eat more brain-nourishing foods.

Focus on complex carbohydrates. Eat modest amounts of lean protein and once again, get plenty of healthy, omega-3 fats!

PRINCIPLE 6 | Diet first, supplement second.

Supplements can help support the body's natural functions (e.g., help correct an imbalance or replenish essential elements). Remember: food is the ideal fuel to give the brain what it needs to remain healthy and balanced.

 

 


RELATED ARTICLE

Enhance Your Resilient Diet

Once you've incorporated the six principles of the Resilient Diet into your daily habits, you may be ready for these more in-depth practices to further enhance your mind-body health through nutrition. Read more.

QgYMYFKSIu82XXFDt8Hg_Enhance_Your_Resilient_Diet_Natural_Mental_Health.jpg

 

Tired All the Time? Meet The Three Energy Thieves

May 29, 2024

Resilient Mental Health: Consider Brain Chemistry

May 21, 2024

Resilience Training and Our Roots of Resilience Series

Apr 17, 2024

RESILIENCE IS YOUR NATURAL STATE

Discover your Resilience Type with the Resilience Quiz

After completing the quiz, you can get your free tailored mini-course, full of integrative practices and supplement ideas to help you reclaim your most resilient self.

Learn more
STAY CONNECTED

Helpful support delivered right to your inbox.

We’ll make your journey to resilience easier. Join our weekly newsletter for integrative tools to help you build on your strengths.

We are spam-free!

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. See our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. 

 

Â