LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — Within the last year, nearly 60 million adults in the US experience a mental illness.

One thing medical professionals have found in combating mental issues, is that diet does affect you mental health. Bianca Coats, Registered Dietitian said, “We are what we eat.” And she continued to share the Vegas nerve connects the gut to the brain.

“Anything that you eat, it goes to your brain, it may release different moods.” Coats said. “How you feel, and you may have heard research is showing processed meats, and cheese. Processed desserts and fried foods, are leading to depression and Alzheimer disease. So, it’s important that we are not eating those things and replace with some better options.”

The good news is there is a way to combat the mental health issue, when it comes to your food intake. Bianca recommended following this guide to help improve your Mind Diet.

“You want to start with your leafy greens? We hear about that every day.” Coats said. “We should be eating our leafy greens like spinach, romaine lettuce, collard greens even, and then incorporating some beans with that. That does decrease the cognitive decline. So, you know, as we get older, our cognition kind of slows down, but the leafy greens and beans will help with that.”

Bianca also recommends Omega 3 foods, like salmon or tuna, blueberries, oatmeal, among other things. A big key to staying mentally strong is hydration.

“If you find yourself in a state of being in confusion, dizzy, it might mean that you’re dehydrated. Yeah. Drink some water. Yeah.” Coats said.

Many dietitians warned that energy drinks are not the solution to staying hydrated and it is always best to stick with water.

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