January 2nd 2011

“Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same.” - Oscar Wilde

I’ve been asked a few times this weekend so just for info, my meetings resume as normal from Tuesday 4th January.

So how was the first day of 2011 for you, I noticed from facebook status updates yesterday that it was a bit of a mixed bag, people were writing things like;

“Has hsd a relaxing start to 2011 wonders how long it'll last lol”

“Very flat new years day!! Hope this isn't a sign of what's to come?”

“Well if the rest of 2011 is as pleasent as today i shall be very content x”

I personally had a very productive day, I bought 3 chickens for a tenner from the Tesco garage when I walked Alfie and when I got back, I skinned and portioned them, made a huge chicken casserole from the 6 legs, and some chicken stock from the carcasses, I’ve frozen the breasts for later. Then I made a batch of the most amazing bolognese ready just to add the spaghetti to later. When I’d finished all that I finally got round to buying a new tv, ours has needed replacing for a year now! The old one has been positioned in my room with the Wii Fit attached to it so I can start doing some yoga to hopefully help my back. So yeah 2011 started well for me.

When I finally stopped for a cuppa and a read I came across a magazine article, how food can boost your mood? Is it really possible to feel better just by adjusting what you eat? Let’s see shall we?

What happens when you’re feeling low, irritable or anxious? Do you reach for the biscuits, chocolate or a glass of wine? We instinctively turn to food for comfort, but there’s growing evidence that many types of food contain substances that can impact on brain chemistry to give you a feel-good boost, help you sleep better and feel more alert – while overdosing on others can have the opposite effect.

Here are the eight top ‘good mood’ foods – plus the ones it’s wiser to cut down on.

What to eat more of…

Sardines (120g can of sardines in tomato sauce = 5pp)

The omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish such salmon, mackerel and sardines make up a large percentage of our brain tissue – mostly in the brain cell membranes – and researchers have found that people with low levels of omega 3s may be more prone to depression and low moods.

Oats (porridge oats 30g = 3pp)

Low GI carbohydrates such as oats, pulse and wholegrain rice and pasta release glucose slowly into the blood stream, which helps to keep your blood sugar and your mood stable – and they give a boost to your immune system.

Spinach (Zero ProPoints!)

Sever studies have shown that people with low levels of the B vitamin folic acide are more likely to feel low or depressed. Eating leafy green vegetables – spinance, broccoli, asparagus and brussel sprouts, for example – as well as calf’s liver, lentils and fortified cereals will help keep your levels up.

Chocolate (100g = 15pp)

The good news is, everyone’s favourite pick-me-up is packed with ingredients that have feel-good potential – although some experts maintain the levels are too low to have any real impact on brain chemistry. I personally think because you enjoy it, it automatically soothes you, but just don’t enjoy too much!

Chicken (1 medium (165g) chicken breast = 4pp)

Eat chicken and turkey breast, nuts, seeds and pulses to increase your intake of the amino acid tryptophan and help boost serotonin production.

Brazil nuts (2 = 1pp)

These are the richest source of the mineral selenium (eggs are good too). Several studies have shown more depression, irritability and anxiety in people with low selenium levels, so eating brazil nuts a couple of times a week might help to give you a mood boost.

Eggs

As well as being a good source of tryptophan and selenium, eggs are one of the few food sources of vitamin D (we get most from sunshine), which may help guard against a low mood. Eggs also contain choline, which is vital for brain health.

Water

It’s something we often overlook, but water is vital for every cellular function. It’s not just your body that’s affected by hydration but also your brain, even mild dehydration can impair your ability to concentrate. So remember to drink often – water that is!

And of course what to cut down, Caffeine, Sugar and Alcohol, I could give you all the reasons but I think most of us already know them!!! So instead go have a bowl of porridge for your breakfast or smoked mackerel and boost your mood. Let’s focus on the positive not the negative effects of food xx