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Good Food For Good Mood

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Not only do these foods lack nutrients, enzymes, and essential fats, which are key to stable and healthy brain chemistry, but they contain a whole bunch of additives, dyes, pesticides and other neurotoxins. Many of the additives found in most processed foods (like sugar and refined flour, MSG and its relatives, aspartame and other fake sugars, and dyes) have been implicated in a host of neurological, behavioral and mood problems. In addition, thanks to these additives, many of these foods are addictive and enticing - they temporarily provide some relief, excitement and an energy boost, and keep us coming back for more.

Over time, however, eating SAD foods contributes to a SAD life. When our diets are primarily made up of these “fake” foods, is it a wonder we feel depressed, anxious, have trouble focusing, or feel stuck in a binge-diet or binge-purge cycle?

Remember, food and mood go hand in hand. Yes, the way we eat not only affects how we feel and the quality of our lives, but the opposite is also true: the way we live, the way we work, the way we love profoundly impacts how we choose to feed and nourish ourselves.

If you’d like to make changes in your diet to improve your mood, here are a few ideas to get you started:

1) Keep a food journal. This is not to be used as ammunition to criticize yourself but rather to notice how certain foods affect you. Take special note of your mood, your energy, your cravings or whatever symptoms you struggle with, both right after you eat as well as several hours later. You may find that you are sensitive to common foods found in your everyday diet that may be contributing to your crankiness.

2) If your diet is not rich in vegetables (and maybe even if it is), consider a good, whole-food based multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.

3) Reduce the worst bad-mood foods: sugar, white flour, caffeine, fake sweeteners, and chemicals. (Don’t recognize a word on a label? Don’t eat it!). Yes, sorry, but this does include diet soda!

4) Get enough of the best good-mood foods: high quality protein, water, unprocessed or minimally processed grains, fruits and veggies.

5) Get enough of the right kinds of fats(I know I need to write a whole separate article on this!). Consider an Omega-3 (fish oil) supplement (I like Nordic Naturals), which has been found to have a very positive impact on mood (of course check with your doctor if you have any medical concerns).

6) Get out and enjoy the SUNSHINE! The longer and brighter days of Spring can help us get out of a bad mood rut.

About the Author:

Karen Schachter is a licensed clinical social worker & certified nutrition counselor who works with women who want to have a healthier relationship with food & in turn, improve their nutrition, improve their mood & energy, decrease their cravings and just generally enjoy life more fully. She helps parents figure out what to feed their children & how to feed their children. Sign up for her FREE newsletter @ http://www.healthybodieshappyminds.com/

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April 28, 2008 | Category: Diet & Weight Loss 

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