There are myriad reasons to make healthy lifestyle choices; improved appearance, disease prevention and increased longevity are just a few. But when was the last time you considered how your healthy lifestyle could affect the way you feel?

It’s about time you did, because your physical and mental health may be fundamentally connected. “Good nutrition in all its forms—from food and sleep to exercise and daylight—will help our mind-body system thrive profoundly,” writes therapist Nick Baylis in his book The Rough Guide to Happiness (Rough Guides Ltd.).

Here are five ways making healthy lifestyle choices can improve your mood and your overall well-being.