Recent research proves that yes, cooking can boost your mental health!
LIVEKINDLY wrote an excellent article from the research they did connecting cooking with mental health, which you can read HERE, but we will summarize their findings below.
To start, Julie Ohana LMSW and founder of Culinary Art Therapy in West Bloomfield, Michigan stated “Cooking at home, or other places are good for your mental health because cooking is an act of patience, mindfulness, an outlet for creative expression, a means of communication, and helps to raise one’s self esteem as the cook can feel good about doing something positive for their family, themselves or loved ones.”
Here is a list of reasons why cooking may be beneficial to you:
- Feeling of Accomplishment: this combats procrastination, has a positive outcome (homecooked food) and can raise your self-esteem.
- Exercise your Creativity: research shows that creative people often lead happier lives. Whether it’s playing with a recipe or trying something new, this can be a fun way to experiment and play in the kitchen.
- Practicing Patience: In an age where we have knowledge, entertainment, and answers at our fingertips, cooking gives us a reason to slow down and learn that some things are worth the wait.
- Connect with Others: Asking friends and family to help in the kitchen can build skills such as communication and delegation, and can build a sense of community.
- Improve your Relationship with Food: As you learn more about the food you work with, you can learn to have a positive outlook on healthier alternatives and improved confidence when learning how to prepare new or unique ingredients.
- Get Healthier: Cooking at home a few nights a week will certainly save you time, money and calories as opposed to eating out (for the most part). Studies have also found that Ninety-five percent of your serotonin is produced in your gastrointestinal tract which proves a connection between gut health and mental health.
Grab some family or friends and try out some new recipes this week!
Article: https://www.livekindly.com/7-surprising-ways-cooking-can-boost-your-mental-health/, Author: Kat Smith, Access Date: July 18, 2022.