5 Foods that Boost Your Mood

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon

Food if you do not know by now is one of my weaknesses.  Of course most of my favorite foods are not especially healthy nor do they always provide all the "benefits" I need...but, who says I always eat what's best for me.  I should...

I read an article on foods that boost your mood and decided to share it with you.  Hope you get some "benefit" out of it.

COLD CEREAL

Eat it for your brain: A handful of MultiGrain Cheerios or Kashi Heart to Heart offers folic acid, which can help fend off the blues. Those with low levels of the nutrient experience more symptoms of depression,  and a folic acid deficiency may prevent your antidepressants from working.

 

Eat it for your body: A quick bowl of whole-grain cereal brims with iron and vitamins, and gets your metabolism humming—and it sure beats skipping breakfast altogether, since that can lead to all sorts of problems later in the day. People who skipped breakfast only once every three months were 34 percent more likely to be obese than those who didn't.  So even if your body doesn't want it when you first wake up, find a breakfast you can live with, and eat.....good health come first and foremost.

 

 FISH

Eat it for your brain: Those with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids, found in several kinds of fish, were happier than those with lower levels, a study from the University of Pittsburgh reveals. Omega-3 fatty acids enhance areas of the brain that affect disposition. Certain fish also pack B12, a known mood booster, which wards off the doldrums by stimulating the brain's production of serotonin, helping you relax. Aim to eat two servings of low-mercury fish (like catfish, cod, crab, flounder and halibut) weekly for more smiles!

I need to encourage Arvid to eat more fish.  To him fish is the occasional shrimp cocktail appetizer.  I enjoy fish but, find I do not make it as much because Arvid is not into it....not AT ALL!!

Eat it for your body: Wild salmon, trout, herring and other cold-water fish are filled with vitamin D, which helps curb appetite, as well as omega 3's, which lower the risk for heart disease. Research also shows that eating fish regularly improves insulin insensitivity, which helps build muscle and decrease belly fat.

EGG YOLKS

Eat them for your brain: Feel sunnier by adding a bit of yellow. Egg yolks contain choline, a mood enhancer. Being low on this nutrient could lead to feeling anxious.

Eat them for your body: Yolks act as a multivitamin, delivering vitamins A and D, as well as folate and calcium.

Well no one has to really force me to eat the following.  In my case, I need someone to tell me ENOUGH!!!  Yum Yum..

CHOCOLATE

Eat it for your brain:  Sweeten your mood by indulging your chocolate urges. Half of depressed people reported craving chocolate, and most of them felt soothed after indulging.  Since chomping too much chocolate sends you into a sugar coma, munch just 1 ounce and savor every bite!

 

Eat it for your body:  Eating a couple ounces of dark chocolate a week (about one Ghirardelli square a day) may cut your risk for heart disease by 33 percent.  Plus, it has more disease-fighting antioxidants than green tea, red wine or blueberries. Perhaps Willy Wonka was on to something!

FRUITS & VEGGIES

Eat them for your brain:  Want a buzz booster? Frequent the produce aisle! People who ate the most fruits and veggies were least likely to feel depressed.

Eat them for your body: Munching the recommended 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of veggies a day reduces your calorie intake and bolsters your immunity. The darker and more colorful, the better! The shades in fruits and vegetables come from phytonutrients, which protect different organs. For example, lutein in greens protects your eyes, while lycopene-packed red tomatoes shield your heart. Color yourself healthy.

When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease.

Had to add this last quote for the heck of it....Be healthy all and CHEERS TO GOOD HEALTH!!

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

until next time...