Hi, ​,  

We’ve been focusing on mental health this month, and I want to end our discussion with a look at how mental health can be impacted by diet.

There are numerous studies out there showing a link between a Western diet and negative mental health outcomes. Western diets are typically heavy in meat, fried foods, sugar, and refined and processed foods. But a new branch of research, called nutritional psychiatry, looks at the relationship between diet and mental wellness, and it's leading to some fascinating discoveries.

For example, a study conducted over a period of 7 years with a participant cohort of 12,400, found that people who eat foods rich in nutrients (ie, fruits & veggies) rated their general happiness levels and even their overall satisfaction levels substantially higher than those who ate more processed and nutritionally deficient foods.

Another study, published in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry, touches on the importance the gut microbiome plays in the production of neurotransmitters that regulate emotions and mood, like serotonin and dopamine (my faves!). They note specifically that “the gut microbiome plays a shaping role in a variety of psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder.”

There are numerous other studies that suggest that the gut/brain axis is an important information center for mood and emotional regulation. Turns out, mom was right! Eat your vegetables, and you’ll be giving your gut/brain axis what it needs to help you be not just healthier, but happier, too!

~Vanessa

Key Ingredients: How Chasteberry and Lactobacillus reuteri in MenoFit help with anxiety and depression during peri/menopause.

Wondering how probiotics can help your gut/brain axis keep you happy? Read this deep dive on two of our key ingredients for more info!

Which nuts you should buy organic?

By now, we all know the power of eating a variety of nuts. But have you ever wondered which you should be eating organic? Buying organic protects people against side effects from pesticides. Some pesticides have been linked to hormone issues and cancer! To avoid this, buy the following nuts organic: almonds, peanuts (actually, a legume), pistachios, and cashews. The only nut that is safe to eat without being organic are walnuts, because the outer shell protects the nut from pesticide contamination. So, make sure that when you reach for this nutritious snack, you opt for organic!