June 25 – Boost Your Moods with Foods
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If we’re stressed and not getting enough sleep, it’s easy to feel down, but there’s another big contributor to your mood: what you’re eating. With its refined sugar and trans fats, the Standard American Diet is throwing our bodies off, and if you feel like you’re in a funk, a lot of it can be related back to the food that you’re consuming.
“The smallest choices each day can make a real difference in improving mental and emotional well-being, stabilizing your moods, and improving your focus,” says Dr. Drew Ramsey, author of the Happiness Diet.
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What foods do you eat to boost your mood?
Any foods you eat to calm yourself down, i.e., comfort foods?
Morning ladies, If we lived in Peru I would have Camu Camu everyday as it helps with mood. But because we are in the states I have to have it via powder form so I add it to y smoothies. Really does make a difference.
My comfort food is anything carbs!
good morning all! I’m in middle of writing a very important article on parental controversy that has been affecting my mood drastically these days. I hate the wars that go on. I need pasta. now. and chocolate. there’s your answer. pasta and chocolate. a custard doughnut won’t hurt either…
Menu,
All is good to have, just not on the regular basis.
It’s an 80×20 rule that applies: 80% of time you eat great, and 20% is left for your indulgencies.
You’ll be just fine!
A Custard doughnut is good to help to reflect on life and what’s going on!
I like that rule. It puts things into perspective. I like when people put things into perspective.
Good morning. .its raining so no beach today 🙁
I love taco salad and chicken and dumplings
good morning I will say use to go to junk food when I was down but I have been trying to ear better so I stay away from them eat fruit
Good morning all. I don’t know if I have a specific comfort food. Maybe nuts of any kind.
Good morning everyone! My go to foods for mood boosting are red grapes, a salad with field greens, watermelon, extreme dark chocolate, and oranges or tangerines. My comfort foods if I’m feeling down or ill, are buttered noodles or mashed potatoes (no gravy). If I really want to indulge, I’ll make myself a flavored coffee, or maybe have a chocolate cream pastry.
@Raye
You sound like me, you want the carbs!
Morning ladies, my comfort food is chocolate.
Good afternoon! I eat ice cream (or reeses pieces) to boost my mood (and it almost ALWAYS works!) Lol and my fav comfort food is homemade mac and cheese (I could live off that stuff!) Wouldn’t say it calms me but it sure is comforting
Good afternoon, I don’t think I have comfort foods. I think I eat out of boredom. I do have a snack everyday. A little debbies brownie. I know . Im bad. lol
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@lesh4537
essk8s (on the treadmill right now and boy oh boy the cheesecake looks so good and I don’t even like cheesecake)
tweeted…
got them I love the strawberries
@conralph and constance ralph. Where can you find the mom made products, I looked at walmart and publix. I had a free coupon but couldn’t find any
Re-tweeted and pinned @beclewis and RebeccaSwenor13
all done 🙂
@buttmonkee8 🙂
I like all types of nuts too. Still looking to buy a nice nut chopper. Used to have a non-electric glass one but they are hard to find in stores now.
Hi, this is my first time on an AM coffee chat. i’m on my android cell so catching up.
Welcome Kathy. This is always fun.
All done, I want those chocolate strawberry cheesecakes.
Here are the Nuts and Seeds that play a huge role in your diet and ways they affect your mood as well.
Pumpkin Seeds
A zinc deficiency can trigger depressive moods, but fortunately pumpkin seeds are packed with the essential mineral. Pumpkin seeds also contain L-tryptophan, a natural mood booster.
Almonds
Almonds pack a lot of nutrients, including folate and magnesium. Magnesium is essential to brain health, and studies have linked it to a reduction in depression, but is often deficient in modern diets. So eat more of those almonds!
Flaxseed Oil
Our standard American Diet has left us very omega-3 deficient and that can be bad for your mental state: omega-3 has been shown to be an effective supplement for fighting depression. Flaxseed oil is an easy way to get a mega dose of omega-3 essential fatty acids, helping to improve your mood
Check this post I’ve assembled a while ago about different types of nuts and Fat content.
It is a good idea to include a handful of nuts every day in your diet, if you are not allergic to them.
For me, it’s a few almonds, filberts (cancer fighters), 2 Brazillian nuts.
when I was pregnant I got into the nuts and seeds as a healthy snack. In addition to the pasta and chocolate, of course 🙂 I didn’t know that they actually improve moods. thanks for the info. got almonds, anyone?
I have been eating nuts lately but I have never tried the flax seeds I must try them
Did you see Blue Diamond has flavored almonds!!
O love roasted pumpkin seeds, I loved almonds and I like to add flaxseed to my energy bites
I love almonds roasted. That is one of the ones I usually snack on.
Nuts are fantastic to have. They are high in fat so ear in moderation!
I love pretty much all varieties of nuts. I like to add slivered almonds to green veggies, walnuts to salads, cashews and pine nuts to stir fries, and of course just munch on a handful.
Interesting, I’m starting to use flaxseed in my smoothies.
I like all types of nuts too. Still looking to buy a nice nut chopper. Used to have a non-electric glass one but they are hard to find in stores now.
My daughter is into sunflower seeds, she even puts them on her salads.
VEGGIES: GREEN LEAFY ONES THAT TRULY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!
Swiss Chard
High in folate, also known as folic acid, swiss chard and other leafy greens are good for your mood. In fact, a study by the University of York and Hull York Medical School found a link between low folate levels and depression.
Asparagus
Feel like you’ve been having a lot of mood swings lately? Get some asparagus on your plate, because it is very high in folic acid — a deficiency that is common in people with depression.
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my husband doesn’t like green leafy veggies. I wish he did. they are very perishable and hard to keep on hand for one person. Any tips for preserving their freshness?
oh we eat them all the time I have asparagus I grow and swiss chard I love and grow as well and freeze to eat in the winter they are the best to eat and so good for you you must add them to you diet
@Menu you can freeze you veggies power boil them for 3 min then put them in ice cold water the drain and put them in freezer bag for later they are great I have a vaccume seal bags I use they keep better and longer
Menu, as soon as you get home from the store, if you wash your leafy greens with a couple of spoonfuls of lemon juice or vinegar, then pat them dry, and put them in a perforated bag, they last a lot longer. If you see that some are starting to wilt, sometimes an ice water soak for 15 minutes will bring them back. If that doesn’t work, you can always chop them finely and freeze to add to soups or meatloaf or stir fries or something later.
Menu,
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We love grilled asparagus with balsamic vinegar sause it is sooooo good
I love asparagus. It is one of my favorite veggies. This is good information to know.
Wish I liked these veggies. Not a fan of dark leafy greens. Although, I do take spinach and chop it I to my pasta to sneak it in.
We like to get frozen spinach and add it to our soups like zupa toscana and a few others
Oh, it’s soo good in foods like soups and pastas.
I like fresh spinach in my salads and spring rolls in rice paper!
This is the only way I will eat these foods. However, they have to be finely chopped!
I love asparagus, I cook it in the oven. It’s so good.
Marinated, grilled asparagus is one of our favorite foods. We love all types of veggies and I’ve been making a lot more meatless meals. Hubby thinks he’s being neglected if I don’t make a field green salad or collard greens at least once a week lol. I use different greens to bulk up stir fries and soups.
I looked at the three posts and shared one on Facebook.
This is something new, I never knew. I think about what we put on are garden ever year to detour the bugs. Of course we wash are vegtables but maybe all these years we haven’t been doing a good job.
Eggs
With their essential fatty acids, eggs help your body to naturally produce serotonin. Low serotonin levels are linked to depression, anxiety, insomnia and fatigue.
plus they are a protein. I think I’m going to boil me coupla eggs now. It’s a great idea. Thanks. (then I’ll go and have my 20%. I need that too now 🙂 )
we also eat farm fresh eggs daily I must say that the benefits of living on a farm are great for this county gal
Oh yum chicken butt eggs…they taste richer to me
@Karen, those always taste better than any eggs from the store. I live in a rural community so I can usually buy eggs from farmers. We’re lucky gals, you and I.
We eat a ton of eggs we love then any way, had an egg sandwich for breakfast
I like hard boiled eggs just plain so this is also good to know. 🙂
I never knew they help with mood. Too bad I do not like them. Will get them if they are hidden.
made my eggs. ate my eggs. mood improved.
I don’t care for eggs, I can eat them every once in awhile.
When hubby had his first heart attacks, the heart specialist told us to limit his eggs because of the cholesterol. A nutritionist told us recently that the rules have changed, so we have eggs pretty often now. We love them cooked any way you can imagine. We also love having ‘breakfast for supper’ a lot of times. One of hubby’s favorite meals is a loaded omelet-mushrooms, peppers, onions, zucchini, chopped spinach, tomatoes, and any other veggies I have on hand.
I love eggs. I just had 2 organic Egglands Best eggs in an omelet i made with goat cheese, fresh and jared ginger, a few small fresh garlic, a few capers, some smoked paprika, cooked in Dr. BBronner’s organic coconut oil. Yum
I would love to try the Egglands Best eggs. I try to only fix eggs maybe 2 days a week. My husband gets mad because I will not fry his eggs with salt.lol.
Dark Chocolate
If you needed another reason to indulge in dark chocolate, it’s this one: dark chocolate can make you happier. A study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that consuming chocolate high in cocoa flavanols increased levels of calmness and contentedness.
I really like dark chocolate. When I was young, I liked white. Then it became milk. As I matured, I started to really enjoy quality dark chocolate. My favorite is made by Damiel, a French company who specialize in dairy-free chocolates.
I am not a dark chocolate eater I don’t care for it unless I am trying the wrong stuff
Karen, one of my besties hated dark chocolate, and I love it, so she’d try a little of mine every time I got a different kind. She now loves the dark chocolate with chili peppers, dark chocolate with sea salt, and I actually have to hide my dark chocolate with orange zest from her lol. Try the different flavorings and maybe you can find one you like.
White chocolate was the only kind I liked when I was younger, I always got a white chocolate bunny in my easter basket. I like all chocolate now
I love dark chocolate and in fact have some very close to me right now. lol
lol Rebecca
@Rebecca, too funny
Haha, give me a chocolate bar NOW
That sounds great to me, I love chocolate.
I love dark chocolate, and it’s so low in sugar, that even hubby can usually have a square or two, even though he’s diabetic.
So many great benefits in dark chocolate. Just make sure it is dark not milk!
I’m having a small Lindt Excellence 70% square right now. Thanks for reminding me!
Im not a dark chocolate fan, But I love milk chocolate.
Oatmeal
While some think oatmeal is one of the most boring foods on the planet, it’s good for your mental state. That’s thanks to a lot of things, including high levels of magnesium, which help your brain fight depression and anxiety. Since it’s also a great source of soluble fiber, it helps stabilize blood sugar levels, which helps you avoid mood swings.
definitely not my comfort food! I used to eat more of this but have been lazy about it lately…
my hubby eat it I cant eat that either it makes me ill
@Karen,
Can you eat it in a bar if you made them.
We like flavored oatmeal, banana, and blueberry are my favorite
I may have to increase my intake of oatmeal because I don’t have it hardly ever.
I love oatmeal. My son loves it too. I usually eat it with a pat of butter and a little salt. Okay, this makes me want some now.
I love oatmeal, I have it in the mornings. Yummy
Hubby loves oatmeal, I usually put a little maple flavoring and cinnamon in it for him. I have never cared for the texture, so I make loose granola or bars and eat it that way.
Don’t have oatmeal as much as i used to.
That’s something I didn’t know, My husband will mix uncooked oatmeal and milk together, and eat it for a midnight snack. I just don’t think I could eat it uncooked.
Lentils
Lentils are a good source of folate which is essential for your mood, and a cup of cooked lentils provides 90 percent of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid.
Lentils also have the amino acid L-tyrosine, which your brain uses to make the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine, therefore helping your brain to combat depression.
I just recently got into cooking lentils. I prepare it with sauteed onions and garlic and cook it with tomatoes. It’s yummy and also a great source of protein, especially for vegan diets.
hmm lentils never tried them eiher sounds like I need to go to the store I will put them in my shopping list
@Menu
Awesome idea. Thanks!
I have some but havent cooked them yet, everything I have seen, says they are really good for you
This is good to know. I usually put some in my chili.
I will have to try it in chili
My husband does not like most beans amd hates when I put them in chili
Never had lentils, I must try them.
My daughter recently gave me a partial bag of lentils we’d used to make soup mixes as gifts. She said she made some and they didn’t like them. She was pretty surprised when I told her she’d eaten them in my soups and meatloaf all her life! They make a great filler if you don’t like them plain or in soups.
@Raye
I made a vegetarian meatloaf with lentils. I was partial to it, I took it to work and people raved about it.
I don’t think anyone in my house would eat lentils. But I do made some type of beans atleast every other week.
Pulled my 2-lb bag of brown lentils out of cupboard now. Red lentils seem harder to find.
Water
A glass of water may be the simplest thing you can ingest, but it’s very helpful.
Mild dehydration has been shown to dampen moods, which means if you want to feel mentally stronger, make sure you’re getting enough H2O throughout the day.
I love ice cold water, I love my Brita bottle, I dont know what I would do without it
I to have to put water in my daily plan I m trying and you are a reminder that I must do this and I will
Karen,
This is my pleasure to remind you, Powerful Galz, about little things like that –> Water Daily Doze!
thank I don’t know what I would be doing if I didn’t have my amcoffee
I love my water. I actually got a large bottle from Tupperware. I try to drink at least two of those a day.
I do drink a lot of water daily. I always ask people if they had enough water when they say they are not feeling very good.
This is my husband. He will call me telling me he doesn’t feel well. I ask if he drank anything and the answer is usually No
I drink water on a daily basis. I love water, put some fruit slices in it, yummy.
I learned a tip years ago to help me remember how much water I’d had for the day. I put 8 rubber bands on the top of my water bottle. When it’s empty, I roll one down. When they’re all at the bottom, I know I’ve had my 8 servings for the day. I drink coffee all day, so I need that water since caffeine is dehydrating.
Raye,
You’ve quite a creative soul!
@Raye
That is a great idea
Water is the key to everything, I believe, I recently read , to stop drinking water that comes in plastic bottles. The is something in the plastic bottles that is harmful.
I’ve been drinking more liquids since yesterday when i read in one of my medication inserts i need to stay hydrated on them. Bought a Mio Fit Electrolytes water inhancer and some True Lemon lemonade mix for 16oz. Water bottle.
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Hi, I’ve never heard of camu camu. Good to know eggs help serotonin. My go to comfort food is sweets, preferably dark chocolate. Cofee does work as a pick me up but need to have with food and not too late in day (caffine)
@Barbara I have read that as well. Glass bottles are the thing. Wish I could find some that aren’t so darn expensive and would be shatter proof. I drop my bottle when I am out too Mich!
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