A good diet is fundamental to mental health and overall well-being.  We know that eating poorly is bad for our physical health, but poor nutrition is also bad for your brain.  And what is bad for your brain is bad for your mental health.

Our brains require up to 40% of the glucose and nutrients that we consume in our diet.  Therefore, to make sure our brains function as efficiently as possible, we need to make sure we are feeding it what it requires.

The foods we eat affect gene expression and regulation and influences all cell signalling throughout the brain and nervous system and so it is a key factor influencing mood, behaviour, and the ability to learn.  So, improving your nutrition can be a simple and effective way to avoid, treat or lesson mood issues.  Learn more about simple ways to do this in our blog article: 

• • What constitutes a healthy diet?

With regards to autism and ADHD well-being, there is abundant evidence from observational, experimental and clinical trials showing that nutrition and diet can affect:

• • the mood and behaviour problems associated with ASD, ADHD and related conditions – but which also affect other children to varying degrees, and
  • many of the physical health problems that co-occur with these conditions at significantly elevated rates – reflecting the established links between gut, immune system and brain health.

If you would like to delve deeper into the effect that diet has on mood, please see the following articles:

• • The importance of micronutrients in relation to mental health 
    • Learn more about how food affects mood, including information about the SMILES trial – this showed how adults were able to dramatically improve depression through a healthier diet, and in some cases put it into remission
  • Why children’s diets matter for their mood, behaviour
    • Understand how nutrition is a key factor influencing mood, behaviour and ability to learn in our blog article written by the world renowned Dr Alex Richardson
  • The sugar rollercoaster
    •  Understand the potential impact of ultra-processed foods on your mood, and simple swaps to help improve your well-being.

All behaviour is a form of communication. We all experience this and express ourselves in different ways, at different times, depending on our mood. For some expressing themselves in a ‘socially acceptable’ way is much harder and may need to be learnt.  Learn how behaviour therapy can help support mood and emotional issues: 

• • Types of behaviour therapy
  •  What is therapeutic play?

When we are anxious or stressed, our body’s sympathetic nervous system triggers the “fight-or-flight” response, often leading to rapid breathing and increased heart rate. By engaging in specific breathing exercises, we can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to induce relaxation and a state of calm.  Read our blog and discover how easy-to-learn breathing techniques can enhance improve wellbeing and reduce anxiety and stress levels: 

• • The benefit of breathing techniques for neurodiverse individuals

Additionally, learn more about how MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) and MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) can help support mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, and depression in our blog post: 

• • Mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy.  

Clinical Reflexology is a holistic, non-invasive therapy, which can work independently or alongside conventional medical care to help the body to re-balance and begin its own healing process.  Understand how reflexology can provide relief from stress and anxiety in our blog article: 

• • What is clinical reflexology?

There has been growing recognition of the relationship between trauma and ADHD/ASD as cognitive and emotional difficulties occur with both. Children that have experienced trauma can present with a wide range of developmental issues, anger control and behaviour problems, anxiety, depression, and additional learning needs. There are multiple studies showing the inextricable link between ASD, ADHD and trauma, with trauma worsening ADHD symptoms and ADHD complicating the effects of trauma.  To find out more about this please view our blog article: 

• • Trauma, ASD, and ADHD