**Special thanks to Paige from http://www.learnfit.org for this wonderful guest blog this week**

When it comes to feeling healthy and strong, the choices you make regarding your diet play a central role. Food affects not only your figure but your mental and physical health as well and if you are looking to feel better, making some adjustments to what you choose to eat can make a big difference. Whether you are looking to feel stronger and more alert, combat depression or chronic pain, or even set yourself up to succeed in battling a drug addiction, make adjusting your diet a top priority.

Focus on healthy food choices for improved health

Many people turn to unhealthy food choices when they aren’t feeling well, relying on sugary treats, caffeine, alcohol, or junk food to get them through difficult moments. However, experts detail that pushing those types of foods away and incorporating healthy foods into one’s diet can lead to big gains in one’s mental and physical health. Eating for energy by focusing on proper nutrition can have a significant impact on how you feel, helping to combat numerous health conditions.

When you are looking to improve your diet in order to improve your physical and mental health, focus on nutrient-dense foods that deliver quality vitamins and minerals. Look to food choices with iron in them, like spinach, lentils, and beans, and be sure to incorporate not only plenty of fruits and vegetables, but lean proteins and whole grains as well. Look for whole food choices and avoid processed choices as much as you can to increase your energy levels and feel better.

Combat issues like addiction and depression with power foods to build you up

It comes as no surprise that dietary choices can have a major impact on managing various health conditions. For example, people who are battling a drug addiction may find that they also are drawn to binge eating and craving junk food choices, explains Psychology Today. Cravings for sugary, salty, high-processed foods can become extreme and can impact one’s brain much like drugs and other addictions can. Changing your diet to incorporate whole, healthy foods can not only help to break the addiction cycle, but it can help to build stamina and improve one’s mood, both of which are key to lasting recovery.

Depression can be greatly impacted by one’s diet as well. Prevention breaks down how turning to comfort foods may provide some temporary relief, but there are better dietary choices to make that can go a long way toward reducing stress and depression. Foods like asparagus, avocados, berries, cashews, oranges, oatmeal, and walnuts are some of the choices that can help to reduce stress and provide antioxidants and other critical components that help your body deal with depression and other challenges.

Whole, unprocessed foods can help to combat chronic pain issues

When it comes to managing chronic pain, dietary changes can have a substantial impact on feeling better. AARP recommends incorporating foods such as red grapes, ginger, soy, tumeric, fish, and cherries to combat chronic pain. Oftentimes experts also suggest foods such as raw nuts, dark and leafy greens, and healthy fats like those that come from avocados as additional choices that can help to reduce chronic pain.

Dealing with ongoing physical or mental health issues can be frustrating and exhausting, and it is not uncommon for people to turn to unhealthy foods to cope with their issues. However, incorporating some simple dietary changes into one’s life can provide significant health improvements. Issues such as depression, drug addiction, and chronic pain can be greatly impacted by shifting one’s diet toward whole, nutrient-dense foods. Making these types of changes may take some dedicated effort, but they are worth the work in the long-run with improved health coming as a result.
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