How to Improve Your Mood Using the Power of Fresh Food
By Erin Weesner
Some days you just wake up feeling more grouchy than good. Have you thought about how what you eat might be affecting your ability to not only rise and shine, but to waltz your way through the day with a sense of positivity and enthusiasm? In addition to being amazing sources of antioxidants, fresh fruits and vegetables can pack a powerful nutritional punch when it comes to elevating your mood and keeping it there.
Boost Your Brain Chemicals
While there’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to the daily diet, we can all at least agree that proper nourishment is an important key to feeling our best and having the energy we need to thrive, not just survive. Certain foods are integral in the production of powerful brain chemicals called neurotransmitters; serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters that is a known mood stabilizer.
Increasing our levels of serotonin production may go a long way in the fight to stave off the grouchies and generally have us feeling confident, energetic and well equipped to handle days when we wake up on the wrong side of the bed. There are lots of great ways to incorporate mood boosting foods into your daily diet, but here are a couple tips to get you started.
Start with the B’s
Bananas have long been hailed as superb sources of potassium, but they are also high in B6, a vitamin that raises serotonin levels. Broccoli is a powerhouse when it comes to folic acid (also known as B9), which is important to the production of red blood cells and mood regulation.
Like broccoli, spinach (actually most leafy greens) provides a hefty serving of folic acid. But this wonder food also contains the mineral magnesium, which is a natural anxiety inhibitor. According to research, the proper balance of magnesium, sometimes referred to as the relaxation mineral, may help reduce irritability and symptoms of anxiety.
Carbs that Complement
In recent years, carbohydrates have gotten a bad rap, but it’s not necessarily the quantity of the carbs we need, it’s the quality. Refined carbs such as white sugar and processed breads and crackers wreak havoc on our systems because they interfere drastically with our blood sugar levels, which can actually leave us feeling tired and cranky.
Opt for complex carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, which may have a calming effect on the body, thereby increasing levels of serotonin. Sweet potatoes do double-duty as the soluble fiber they contain will help slow down the absorption of sugar in your blood, which may reduce mood swings.
How do YOU feel when you eat fresh fruits and vegetables? It’s not just your cells that will thank you. Your outlook on life will reap the rewards as well. Tell us your favorite tips in the comments below!
Build the Basics of Healthy Eating
Do you have stacks of recipes and diet books collecting dust on your kitchen shelves? In this day and age of multi-tasking, setting aside the time to prepare nutritious meals for your family may seem super challenging.
But healthy eating really is easier than you think! Let us help you get comfortable in the kitchen, making delicious recipes your family will love in minutes, not hours! Join us for what could be the most nutritionally-impactful week of your life, at our Fresh Eats Intensive! Sign up now for hands-on training at the BE Castle Headquarters and get ready to take back your health!
Meet Erin Weesner
When she’s not giggling with her two young daughters or engaging in philosophy with her massage-therapist husband, Erin Weesner can be found wiggling and jiggling her way around her sunny Florida home with hula hoop and green smoothie in hand. She is compassionately committed to celebrating the beauty in everyday life and nurturing the health and radiant well-being of everyone around her. Her daily mantra? Live with Gratitude! Tell Erin your favorite mantra here: [email protected]