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Anti-Depression Foods

What Anti Depression Foods Do You Crave When You Are Feeling Blue?

Wine gums are one of my favourite cheer-me-up foods.

With ice-cream as a close second!

What about you?

You are not alone if you crave sweet food when you are feeling down. Studies show that sweet, carbohydrate foods like biscuits, chocolate and cakes help the body produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is said to lift the spirits.

Bingeing on sugary food affects blood sugar levels and will give you a quick high. But beware, this will soon be followed by a deep low.

I am not good at following strict diets…

I prefer to lay down a few basic but critical guidelines for a healthy diet, and then tweak them as needed…

Guidelines For Anti Depression Foods

  • The answer to anti depression food is to eat complex carbohydrates, like wholemeal (whole wheat bread, muffins or scones, cereal bars, brown rice or wholemeal pasta, which are broken down slowly in the body. They will give you a serotonin lift but the effect is more even and lasts longer, helping you to feel calm and balanced.
  • We all need a sweet treat at times and, in moderation, natural sugars such as rice syrup, date sugar, pure Vermont syrup, unsulfured blackstrap molasses, and unfiltered honey are all acceptable. Consider using an herbal sweetener. A popular one that has nearly no calories is stevia.
  • Some fats are healthy and instrumental in maintaining mental health, especially omega-3 fatty acids. When you choose oil for cooking, your best choice is probably cold-pressed olive oil. Butter and other saturated fats (like coconut oil, but not margarine that contains transfatty acids) may be used in moderate amounts. I suggest you avoid fried foods (especially deep-fried).
  • The amino acid tryptophan, which the body converts to serotonin, is found in lean meat, poultry eggs, soya beans and some other pulses (legumes), dried dates, broccoli, low-fat dairy products, bananas and watercress.
  • Not getting enough iron can lead to mild depression, so make sure you are getting enough of this valuable mineral, remembering that Vit C is needed for the body to absorb iron.

 

 

QUICK LIFT
Chillies stimulate the brain to release endorphins, which naturally boost the spirits.Ginger has a similar effect, so a meal of stir fried chicken, liver or tofu with fresh root ginger and chillies is a savoury solution to feast upon if you are feeling blue.

 

Anti depression foods on the “Avoid” list are mostly those that have been highly refined and processed – white flour, white rice, and white sugar.

  • Avoid alcohol. People often forget that alcohol is a depressant, even though it provides an initial kick. Drinking alcohol can also disturb your sleep, which is a problem with many people who are depressed.
  • Use caffeine in moderation – coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate.
    (Okay, you can have a limited amount of organic dark chocolate on occasion.) If you must have coffee, choose an organic coffee, since most coffees are high in pesticides.
  • Other red flags to look out for are hydrogenated fats, chemical food additives, fluoride and chloride.

So next time you are feeling just a bit blue, chop up a banana with a couple of dried dates and eat it with a spoonful of low-fat yoghurt.
Sprinkle over a few Brazil nuts and even add selenium, a mood enhancer.
In fact, anti depression food is good for any occasion.



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