Mood Food

Is a good mood a state of mind or a way of being? Or, can you enhance your mood by choosing what you eat carefully? You betcha! Of course the “go to” food any craving ninny will tell you is chocolate but there is much more to it than that. 

Improving your mood means stabilizing your blood sugar level first and foremost. Think about it…what kind of bear are you when you haven’t eaten in a few too many hours? There is a biological reason for that, you are built to be given the rage to kill whatever gets between you and your food. It is survival instinct 101!

So before we go for the chocolate (and there is a specific way to do that) let’s start with the blood sugar level:

My favorite food to control blood sugar is actually medically tested and patented for doing so. Salba ® is an ancient grain that is high in everything we need for a good mood: omega 3 (see item later on this nutrient!) magnesium, protein and fibre.

My second favorite food is hemp seed and I prefer Mum’s Original Hemp since it is a delicious, organic product that has no grassy taste like some others can. Hemp is a complete vegetarian protein that provides insoluble fibre to regulate digestion and therefore blood sugar swings.  It also contains GLA which helps control hormonal swings; I know that’s a big part of my mood.

Then it’s about the brain fuel…good fat:

Fish and/or fish oil supplements for their omega 3 fats.  There is consistent evidence that supplying the brain with sufficient omega 3 improves or prevents symptoms of dementia, depression and other mental disorders. And, if it can do that it can surely bust our little bumps of the blues.

Eggs. An egg a day is a healthy way to get an excellent protein and it is high in B6, B12, pantothenic acid and tryptophan  which are all required to make the very neurotransmitters that determine mood.

Lastly the fun one…

Chocolate. Yes, I finally got to the favorite.  The jury is still out on if, how and why chocolate improves mood but we both know there is nothing like it.  During these dreary winter days, I have a cup of hot cocoa each and every day. But, to get the health benefits, it must be 1 tbsp of pure cocoa powder mixed with 2 tsp maple syrup, topped with a mug of hot water and ¼ cup of milk.  Mmm, my mood improved just thinking about it.