According to the www.webmd.com article mentioned in “Natural Solutions for Mood Support,” in Vitamin Retailer’s November 2021 issue, there are lifestyle steps that consumers can take to improve their mental and physical health, which are closely related.
First, consumers should regularly exercise, which is important not only for physical fitness, but also for improving mood. “A daily 10-minute walk may increase your mental alertness leaving your energetic and in a good mood,” according to WebMD. Next, eating a diet “high in fruits and vegetables and low in processed sugars or fats can improve … mood.”
Additionally, avoiding alcohol and drugs can drastically improve mood as well. “Although drinking and smoking may make you feel better in the short term, they can have a negative effect on both your physical and mental health.” Being a depressant, alcohol often causes poor mood as well as sleep problems the more it is used. Smoking and drinking affect the skin, lungs and other internal organs, leading to poor physical and mental health overall.
Consumers who want to improve their mood should also practice getting enough sleep (around seven to nine hours), and a 30-minute nap during the day can raise alertness, according to the article. In addition, relaxation techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing and focusing thoughts can all help with stress.
Lastly, developing good mental practices and focusing on positive emotions and events rather than negative ones can help to improve mood as well. In addition, “talking with friends or family members can help [one] feel less stressed, [and] getting others to help with difficult situations can also reduce the burden [one feels].”
For more information, visit www.webmd.com.
