Humans are social by nature.
You want to understand those in your life and be understood in return. Whichever is the case, empathy improves communities, helping people perform effectively and happily alongside others.
When you put others first, you stimulate spiritual growth, emotional wellness, and self-development. It also lowers self-focus and social isolation, factors responsible for causing depression.
You develop empathy and compassion.
Goodness is a reward in itself. Being good to others has both mental and physical health benefits. When you help others, you get a rush of good feelings.
Doing good to others has a high healing power. It triggers the release of the feel-good endorphin emotions. According to various neuroscientists, helping others triggers the brain to release dopamine-related pleasure response as is sex and food.
A simple thought of giving to charity can light up these pleasures in you. Other benefits of empathy and compassion include:
- Promotes the development of more satisfying relationships
- Improves performance at work
- Makes people feel well-understood
- Empathetic physicians make patients do better
However, a study revealed that empathy is reducing among young adults. According to the 2010 study, students assessed from 1979 to 2009 experienced a drop in empathy by up to 40%. The biggest drop occurred immediately after 2000.
Exposure to violence and media with negative messages were attributed to the decline, leading to apathy and detachment from others’ pain.
Lack of empathy in a single person can affect everyone, hence the need to give and receive empathy.
The level of empathy everyone begins with differs but it can increase. What’s more, quality relationships drive emotional resilience, which in turn cultivates compassion and empathetic behavior.
Food for Emotional Health and Mental Development
Healthy foods are good for your health. They reduce the risk to develop several chronic diseases such as:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Obesity
Furthermore, eating healthy food is linked to better mental and emotional health. It also reduces anxiety and depression.
Certain foods influence a human’s psychological well-being, including emotional health. They reduce cases of mental health worldwide and improve your personal well-being.
Healthy Foods for Mental and Emotional Health
- Oily fish
Fish is rich in DHA, omega-3 fatty acids that benefit the brain. It boosts long-term and short-term memory, further improving your brain health.
The nutrient also lowers anxiety levels and enhances mental health feelings. It’s available in trout, salmon, and prawns, among other seafood. You can also take it in the form of a fish oil supplement.
- Leafy greens
Daily consumption of leafy greens, according to a study published in the Neurology journal, reduces cognitive decline.
Take your greens raw or lightly cooked to ensure that the nutrients aren’t killed during cooking. You can also use the Traeger grill to barbecue your greens.
When using this product that’s designed to use charcoal, you’re also guaranteed better-tasting leafy greens.
- Walnuts
Walnuts don’t resemble the brain for no reason. They promote long-term brain health. The antioxidants they contain help prevent oxidation in the brain and other parts of the body.
Additionally, they promote the generation of new neurons. With the growth of new cells in the brain, you benefit from better mental and emotional health.
- Berries
Berries are rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals in the body to prevent inflammation and repair cells. Cigarette smoke, pollutants, and other nasties are responsible for causing free radicals in the body.
Studies have also found that antioxidants reduce symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and stress.
Berries are also rich in polyphenols, a compound responsible for improving concentration, memory, and span of attention. You’ll find them in the following berries:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Whole grains
Carbs aren’t just delightful but also rich in tryptophan amino acids responsible for serotonin production. The “feel-good hormone” enhances your mood, calms the mind, and promotes a consistent sleep cycle.
- Yoghurt
The probiotics found in yoghurt improve gut health.
However, studies have also linked the good bacteria to better mental health because they reduce anxiety, stress, and depression levels. This is attributed to the brain-gut connection.
- Beans
Rich in antioxidants and fiber, beans and other legumes stabilizes blood sugar, makes you fuller for longer and promotes metabolism to burn off excess calories.
Thiamine in beans fosters the production of memory-related neurotransmitters known as acetylcholine.
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