Good Mood Food

I am a firm believer in the theory that we are what we eat and that food can nourish not just our bodies but our emotional well being as well. Different foods have different effects on us and they have the ability to change our internal chemical balance, improve sleep, concentration and libido. Pretty cool really, if you know which foods do what and why.
Now that the crippling lethargic kind of depression is lifting and I am out of bed, getting out into the sunshine and even running, I can begin to help myself by eating foods that actually make me happy and beat up the negative chemicals that flooded my sad, tired body. After all, there's only so long that a girl can live on wine, bread and cheese alone... Even in France!

Gertie's Guide to Good Mood Food:

1. Brown Rice: This slowly absorbed carbohydrate actually triggers the release of our natural happy chemical, serotonin! So it lifts your mood while giving you a sustained burst of energy. 


2. Garlic: Garlic has been used through the ages to cure all kinds of ailments and science has found out that this is because it has a detoxifying chemical in it called allicin. Allicin gets rid of the nasties stuck in our body and it is also an antibiotic, an anti-fungal and it lowers our blood pressure and cholesterol. Need I say more? Eat as much as you can get your hands on! But please make sure your other half has the same amounts. What's the point in feeling great if you can't get any?!


3. Avocados: It is a myth that they make you fat. Yes they are full of fats, they are jam packed with the good kind, and it is a little known fact that good fats actually break down fatty deposits in our bodies, ready to be flushed out! Also avocados have different 14 minerals in them, all of which regulate body function and the iron and copper content in an avocado stimulates red blood cell regeneration. All of this raises our energy levels, regulates our stress hormones and helps us to cope with daily life.


4. Cucumbers: They have a cooling effect on the body and specifically the liver. When the liver is not overheated and properly nourished it balances hormones, boosts mood, beats stress and gives you fantastic skin! Be as cool as a cucumber with loads of salads and juices!


5. Berries: All berries contain a huge amount of Vitamin C. Vitamin C deficiency weakens the immune system and makes you feel stressed and run down, so my suggestion would be to add extra berries to every cocktail.


6. Almonds: Not the sugared kind! Almonds are rich in magnesium which is essential for supporting adrenal function and the breakdown of your bodies fatty deposits. Low levels of magnesium result in nervous tension, anxiety, irritability and insomnia.

I love seeing the effects that good food has on my body and mind. I will follow this article up with the Good Food Guide to skin, hair and nail care. Just try it and see what a difference it makes!

Photo credit: jcmar.net