Yes, the foods you eat and how you move your body absolutely can impact your mental health. This is why eating regular meals, including a variety of foods and food groups, staying hydrated, and finding time for joyful movement are all important.
However, mental illness cannot be cured simply by diet and exercise alone. It is irresponsible and damaging to suggest a person can just “get over” their mental illness by following a certain diet or exercise regimen. Every person’s illness is different and may require a different course of treatment and it is not up to anyone to shame them for not being able to just change what they eat and how they move and be cured.
Struggling with your relationship to food and your body? Recovering from an eating disorder or chronic dieting and in search of an experienced eating disorder registered dietitian in the Centerport, New York area or virtually? Send Christina an email to learn more about 1:1 nutrition therapy sessions!
Heard the “just get over it” statement many times over the years s as well as the argument for healthy living or for more faith. These comments cut to the core and leave people feeling isolated and in more pain. I always bite my tongue because I want to respond and say “Don’t you think we would if we could?” I remember then that rarely will I get through to most of the people in my life making these comments because they don’t know how much self care it takes to manage and/or recover from mental illness. Wendy
Yes Wendy it’s so true there is no simple fix and so many people don’t get it!