Good Mood Food
There’s a saying ‘we are what we eat’ and what we eat daily can have an affect on everything to do with our lifestyle, writes Tracy Hargreaves
Last year I qualified as a personal trainer and I’m now more conscious about what I eat and the effects it has on my body. It’s not just about putting on weight, the food we eat can change our lifestyle, both good and bad. If you’re reaching for the sweet, sugary and starchy foods in large quantities, these foods can affect our blood sugar levels. They are only a temporary fix to how we feel and once our energy levels drop again, this can cause mood swings, irritability and tiredness.
Always start the day with a good breakfast such as, porridge or scrambled eggs with avocado on brown bread. For a snack, swap a biscuit for a handful of nuts, carrots and hummus, Greek yoghurt or two small squares of dark chocolate, around 70 per cent cacao and drink plenty of water. You’ll find your energy levels will become more balanced throughout the day, particularly later, when we get that mid-afternoon slump.
Eating processed foods with a high level of salt and sugar on a regular basis has been known to affect concentration. If you are regularly low on focus, concentration and energy, look at foods with high levels of B vitamins, such as dairy products, eggs, fish, meat, poultry soy beans and pulses. B vitamins are needed to help maintain healthy nerves and to produce the important neurotransmitters that help with concentration, mood and appetite. Deficiency in some B vitamins are linked to some sort of decline in mental or emotional state: depression, fatigue memory loss and confusion.
Some foods don’t agree with us and that includes our gut. If you have fullness in your stomach, recurrent headaches, bloating or bad breath, this can be a result of a bad digestive tract. Keep a diary of what you are eating when you feel like this and eliminate the foods one by one. By choosing foods and drinks that aid the digestive system rather than overload it can reduce your symptoms. Eat plenty of fibre, barley, beans, brown rice, fresh fruit and vegetables, carrots apples and plums are all good for us. Antioxidants are also an important group of nutrients for healing the gut wall. Foods such as avocado, kale, peppers, sweet potatoes and watercress should be added to your diet.
For those struggling to sleep, magnesium is the calming mineral which can help. Don’t eat processed foods or foods rich in sugar too close to bedtime. These will only give you an energy rush and you’ll find it hard to switch off. A lack of magnesium can be directly linked to difficulty going and staying asleep. Foods include fish, soybeans and dark leafy green vegetables.
Food can have a massive impact on how we feel, make sure you’re eating good mood food to feel your best.
