Let me first say, that I am NOT a doctor or dietician. I am a mental health therapist, specializing in Happiness. This past week I did some research to find out how food and exercise effect our happiness. There is a LOT of information out there! I’ve always thought of eating right and exercise as vehicles to lose a few pounds and stay physically healthy, but in my research it seemed like a case of the more I learned, the less I (previously) knew.

If you are like me, your eyes glaze over and voices metamorphasize into the voices of adults on the Peanuts cartoons when someone starts telling me about eating right and exercising. So, I’m going to give you the extremely abbreviated version first. Then if you want more, read on. But the crux of the research is that most of the American diet is prone toward depression. As for exercise, it is THE number one happiness booster and can be a major force in fighting depression and being happier. So, eating better and exercise are not just about looking more fit – it’s about feeling better not just physically, but emotionally!

Over the next week, I will write two articles that will explain in more detail the foods that will make you happier but also the exercise that will do likewise (and no, not all exercise releases the “happy chemicals”.

Frank Clayton
Licensed Professional Counselor.