Health Coach emphasizes connection between food and mental health
The physical benefits of a healthful diet are tried and true, but there’s a mental health component that isn’t as widely talked about.
About 95% of serotonin is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, so what we eat not only affects the way our bodies move but the way our minds think too.
“What we eat contributes to our overall brain function,” said Stephanie Sprauer.
Stephanie works full-time in property management but part-time in health and transformation coaching, a side endeavor she started to “remain accountable for [her] own health and also to help others find personal joy and fulfillment by being their healthiest selves.”
She moved to Los Angeles in February of 2020 and spent her mandatory lockdown becoming better acquainted with her own mind and body, and she credits that to lessons in mindful eating.
“I think my own personal journey with my mental health has really come to a head this last year,” she said. “I learned how much a balanced diet and mental health really go hand-in-hand.”
As “healthy” eating and meal prep continue to be trending topics, there’s still a lot of information to sift through. But Stephanie’s goals are to weed out the misconceptions and help people become their best selves.
“The most beautiful transformations I’ve seen are in the people that have increased confidence because they’re taking care of themselves,” she said. “When we eat foods that are good for us, drink enough water, and cultivate a level of intention in our overall self-care, we start to bring that intention into other areas of our lives.”
Read on as Stephanie shares insights into her own mental health journey, the benefits of mindful eating, and some tips and tricks to help the curious get started.
What has your journey with food and mental health been like?
I can’t speak for everyone else in the world, but COVID has certainly changed my life forever.
This last year has really shaped my overall perception of my own personal strength, resiliency, and how I pay attention to my mental state. I’ve really gotten to know myself better, which is something I’m immensely grateful for. I’ve been reminded (countless times) that I am really tough and can make it through hard times.
What I noticed since starting to eat a balanced diet is how much eating healthier food positively impacted my mood and how it aided my overall happiness.
How does what you eat affect your overall well-being?
I always say, “Focus on WHAT you eat, now HOW MUCH you eat.” What we put in our bodies impacts our daily lives more than we realize.
I feel people too frequently associate what they eat with whether it will make them skinny or not. This is a really unfortunate mindset that diet culture perpetuates. When we think about what we eat as a contributor to how we want to look as opposed to how we want to feel, I think we run into problems.
When we choose whole, natural foods that contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, our bodies are absorbing all this goodness. When we choose highly processed, unnatural foods, our brain’s pleasure centers are often ignited because it’s highly addictive.
Why should people be mindful about what they eat? What are the benefits?
We can all benefit from paying attention to what we put in our bodies. There shouldn’t be an end result like weight loss that causes us to focus on eating “healthy.” We should focus on it because it FEELS so good.
I’ve personally found when I have structure and have prepared myself to make nutritious choices, I see a myriad of benefits that have nothing to do with how I look. To name a few: I sleep better and have a more regulated REM cycle, my gut health has improved and is more regulated, my skin is clearer, I have increased energy, I’m a nicer person to others, and I remember things quicker and easier.
What are common misconceptions that surround healthy eating?
The biggest misconception is that we need to restrict or avoid the foods that we enjoy in the name of health. Why would you eat something you hate because you think it’s what you should be doing? That’s just silly!
I also think most people associate a healthy diet with wanting to lose weight. Skinny does not equal healthy. Period. I also think that the food industry has very skillfully labeled items as “low carb,” “low sugar,” or “low fat,” but they’re highly processed and that makes it really hard for our bodies to process.
When it comes to meal prep and planning, what do most people struggle with?
I think most people struggle with desiring convenience over making choices aligned with the things they say they want in their health. For example, if I’ve had a long, annoying day at work, I’m much more likely to emotionally decide I’d rather stop and grab a pizza on my way home instead of making something nutritious, especially if nothing is prepped for dinner.
So I like to say, “Have a skeleton of a plan.” You don’t have to write out every single morsel of food you plan on having for the week, but having an idea and physically writing out a list helps keep you accountable.
What are some tips you give people who are just starting this journey?
- KEEP IT SIMPLE.
- Focus on intuitive eating rather than “dieting.” Don’t exclusively focus on weight loss as a reason for eating healthy.
- Pay attention to how you talk to yourself. Are you telling yourself you SHOULD or SHOULD NOT eat certain things? Why? When we tell ourselves we can’t eat specific things, we stop listening to our bodies and start having a war with food.
- Vegetables are your friends and are extremely versatile. A diet rich in veggies can help lower blood pressure, reduce your risk of heart disease, prevent specific types of cancer, lower your risk of digestive and eye problems, and can have a positive impact on your blood sugar regulation, which helps prevent diabetes and dramatic spikes in hunger.
- Prep foods you like to eat! Don’t eat foods that you don’t like in the name of health.
- Prep foods by cutting up your vegetables so they’re ready to cook, cooking proteins ahead of time so they just need to be reheated, making a list of meals for the day, and having healthy options in your fridge and pantry for easy snacks.
