Foods to Help Improve the Mental Health of Caregivers

We are so appreciative of our caregivers, who work extremely hard taking care of their clients. They may not get the chance to take care of themselves with the same precision and attentiveness as they do for their clients. Overtime this can cause stress, high blood pressure, anxiety or an overall a mood decline. In addition to making time for daily exercise or ‘me time,’ caregivers should be cognizant of the food they are fueling their bodies with. Food can have a direct impact on the health and well-being of our bodies, including our gut health and mental health, which is why we recommend all of our hardworking caregivers try to implement these five foods into their daily routine to improve their mental health.

1. Lean Protein. Fueling your body with the proper lean protein can help keep your serotonin levels even keeled and balanced. If you are looking for a lean protein to implement into your routine, try fish, turkey, beans, eggs or chicken.

2. Fatty Fish. Fatty fish is high in omega- fatty acids, which will help product the proper neurotransmitters that our brains rely on to improve our moods. We recommend finding wild fish that live in cold water, such as salmon, herring or mackerel.

3. Leafy Greens. We have grown up with our parents telling us to “eat our greens” and make sure that we eat our vegetables daily. As you get older, you realize that they were right; vegetables are important. Spinach, lettuce and broccoli are all sources of folic acid. A lack of folic acid has been proven to cause depression, sleep issues or extreme tiredness.

4. Yogurt with Active Cultures. Kefir, tempeh, kimchi and yogurts with probiotics have all been proven to reduce stress, anxiety and improve overall mood and mental health.

5. Whole Grains. To fuel your body, you must fuel your brain with a good source of energy! Carbohydrates can help the brain use glucose for energy, giving you a steady foundation of energy to stand on all day. Try incorporating wild rice, beans, soy or oats into your diet to improve your energy levels and overall mood.

We hope that these foods will help improve the mental and physical health of the hardworking caregivers in the home care industry. We appreciate all your hard work each and every day!