Mental health is as important as physical health in letting us live and enjoy our lives to the fullest. Mental health disorders have become quite common in present times. Stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, schizophrenia, dementia, etc. are terms that we encounter on daily basis.
While conventional treatment methods are considered to be the most reliable for their treatment, home remedies too should be pulled in for quick recovery. Here are some of the best home remedies for mental health disorders.
Home Remedies For Mental Health Disorders
Exercise
Exercise is perhaps the most important home remedy for mental health disorders. Regular walking and jogging can do wonders to your mental health. Shadow boxing, sit-ups, pull-ups or both together are highly recommended for boosting mental health. Studies prove that exercise releases endorphins that elevates our mood and makes us happy.
Exercise also releases certain chemicals that delay or prevent hippocampus degeneration. Hippocampus is the part of brain mostly associated with memory as well as learning. Needless to mention that exercise improves memory and concentration. It also increases brainpower by enhancing brain-derived neutrophic factor (BDNF) protein. This protein plays a crucial role in learning, higher thinking and decision making. Exercise also enables the brain to release dopamine which addicts otherwise seek in drugs and alcohol. By releasing dopamine, exercise helps in correcting body clock and correcting your schedule.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains sugar, lecithin, flavorings and most importantly cocoa. It is this cocoa that promotes mental health by increasing levels of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are natural opiates. Cocoa also increases levels of serotonin hormone that suppresses mood swings and is also a component of many anti-depressant drugs.
It also acts as a natural antioxidant primarily because of resveratrol in it. You should choose dark chocolate over milk chocolate because the former contains more cocoa (the darker the chocolate, the more cocoa content in it i.e. up to 80%) . Also, one should not take more than an ounce of chocolate on daily basis. Avoid drinking milk along with chocolate or dipping your chocolate in your glass of milk as it would interfere with antioxidant absorption and promote only calorie absorption.
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflowers bask in the sun for the entire day and thereby store the photons from sun in their DNA. This process helps the sunflower seeds resonate with human cell photons. This particular resonance is vital for peace of mind and a healthy body and hence helps in fighting mental disorders like depression. Sunflower seeds are also natural pH buffer agents and hence bring a balance to the body’s pH level.
Various diseases, including those related to mental health, are caused by unbalanced pH level (i.e. the acidic level being more than alkaline). The best way to take sunflower seeds as treatment for mental health disorders is to soak them and let them sprout. This process would make the seeds more digestible by releasing the inhibitor enzymes and enhancing the taste.
Pepper
Pepper contains piperine that increases beta-endorphine in brain. Beta-endorphine acts as an anti-depressant and increases production of serotonin production. It also boosts functioning of the brain.In addition, it stimulates adrenaline production, reduces stomach acid and ulcers, and coordinates contractions in digestive tract. Use pepper in your food and sprinkle some of it on your salads to avail the benefits.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Studies prove that omega-3 is not only good for the heart but also for the brain and the nervous system. This is because omega-3 fatty acids comprise of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) trigger biological functions in the central nervous system. Besides, DHA is a seminal component that forms neuronal membranes.EPA too affects neuronal activity with its physiological functions. It has also been seen that omega-3 fatty acid deficiency in the diet lead to depression and schizophrenia. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are tuna, sardine, mackerel, halibut and flaxseed.
