Happiness Foods
UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, has advocated measuring the country’s levels of well-being as well GDP. If he wants the population to be happier then austerity measures are hardly likely to help. But changes in diet could.
Your mood can be enhanced by the types of food you eat… which may be a blinding glimpse of the obvious. And it could work either way. A bad meal could leave you feeling full of beans but not happy. But certain foods can make you feel happy because they contain mood-enhancing nutrients. For example:
Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids – oily fish, nuts, flax seed.
Scientifically proven to take the edge off depression. Also available as supplements. Comvita do a fantastic range of high strength Fish Oils. Or for vegetarians and vegans, there’s Pukka Hemp Seed Oil and Nature’s Own Flaxseed Oil. All available from Xynergy.
Tryptophan – lobster, turkey, pineapple, tofu, bananas.
Our bodies Tryptophan into serotonin, the happiness chemical that makes us feel good.
Amino-acids – chicken, turkey, fish, cheese, eggs, milk, nuts, pulses, bananas, avocados, legumes… and of course Spirulina.
Foods containing Vitamin Bs – spinach, peas, wheat germ and avocado
Plus, wholegrains – oats, quinoa and brown rice
Slow release sugars will help maintain your energy levels – and therefore your mood - without having to resort to snacking (but if you feel the need to fill the energy gap, then seeds, nuts and Wheatgrass Juice would be a good choice).
There is no doubt that good nutrition can help us feel happier, and can reduce the effects of more serious ‘lows’. If your diet is not already full of the foods mentioned above (lobster aside), why not try them and see if they make a difference. Enjoy.
