De-junk to keep your mind on the job

Top tips to help employees ditch the junk food and turn to brain-friendly foods to help improve concentration and mood

The benefits of a balanced diet on health and wellbeing are well documented, but what about the effects of nutrition on the brain? With World Mental Health Day coming up on 10th October1 there could be no better time for a focus on diet, concentration and mood as part of your company’s wellness strategy.

A recent article in the MailOnline2 looks at the latest thinking on nutrition and the brain – the foods that help as well as those that hinder. As the title of the article suggests Eating the right food can improve your memory, lift your mood and help you concentrate for longer. Apparently, our brain uses up about 20% of our daily calorie intake. Good concentration relies on a regular calorie intake throughout the day to keep blood sugar at a level that supports the free flow of messages between brain cells. In other words, a healthy and balanced diet is essential to keeping focused and alert.

So if companies want to help ensure that their employees are as happy, healthy and productive as possible, it could pay to promote the benefits of a healthy brain diet in the workplace.

Top Tips3:

  • Replace sugary snacks in vending machines and in the canteen with healthier options such as walnuts (rich in Omega-3 oils – good brain food!), almonds, protein bars and rice cakes.
  • Ensure employees take their regular breaks and eat three meals a day.
  • Keep a ready supply of drinking water available at all times.
  • Offer enticing alternatives to caffeine! A single espresso can help boost alertness but a double could lead to anxiety and muddled thinking.
  • Provide educational information on the benefits of a healthy diet on the brain and mood.
  • Distribute healthy recipes and top tips – for example, encourage employees to try bacon & eggs for breakfast for a good mood throughout the day. Eggs can make a real difference to memory2.
  • Create healthy eating challenges and offer incentives for completion. Cravings can be prevented by focusing on other activities such as exercise or socialising2.

 

Sources:

1 https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/list/?tribe_paged=8&tribe_event_display=list

2 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1276881/The-brain-diet-Eating-right-foods-improve-memory-lift-mood-help-concentrate-longer.html

3https://www.forbes.com/sites/alankohll/2017/04/27/eat-move-live-3-components-of-a-healthy-office/#573d98772740