Relish These Choice Foods and Lift Your Spirits
By Sandy Schroeder
Some foods are just way more talented than others. Their sleek taste, spicy kick, or rich depths set them apart from the ordinary. But that’s not all. These foods also have compounds that lift the spirits.
In anticipation of the pleasure, your brain releases the feel-good chemical dopamine. Then, as you take that first bite, your body responds and you begin to smile.
Recently Prevention.com posted a list of some of these foods. Take some taste tests. See if you agree.
Coffee – Researchers say women who drink two to three cups of coffee per day are 15 percent less likely to be depressed. Coffee also serves as a social brew, encouraging us to relax and enjoy a cup with friends. So grind the beans, and enjoy the rich aroma and satisfying flavors of your favorites.
Chocolate – Now researchers are saying all chocolate, not just dark, has some health benefits. Enjoy small bites on a daily basis. Use cocoa powder for hot chocolate, and mix it into your favorite batters to bake.
Yogurt – Choose low-sugar Greek yogurt topped with fresh fruit or whipped into a smoothie. Yogurt provides healthy probiotics to improve digestion and keep your mood mellow.
Apricots – These healthy choices are loaded with Vitamin B6 to help reduce depression. Dip the edges in chocolate, and chill for low-calorie, high-sweetness snacks. Or turn them into apricot pie, jelly or tarts.
Flax – Here’s a champion health booster. Buy ground flax and stir it into bread batters, morning oats, evening casseroles or lunchtime smoothies. It’s a major heart health booster.
Shiitake mushrooms – Cook them with meats or vegetables to savor their rich, meaty taste, as they provide mood-lifting selenium and magnesium. This Asian classic is one of the most popular mushrooms in the world.
Clams – Enjoy clam chowder or a hearty fish chowder, and benefit from Vitamin B12 that helps to reduce depression. You can use fresh or canned clams.
Pomegranate – Serve as a breakfast juice, or eat fresh ones for snacks, to cut anxiety and depression and help lower blood pressure.
Nuts and Seeds – Use them as snacks, in place of chips or cookies, and add nut butters to your lunch or breakfast. Nuts and seeds supply alpha-linolenic acid to fight inflammation and depression. Count on them to boost your mood and mellow you out.
Oysters – Discover the pleasures of oyster stuffing, oysters on the half shell or fried oysters, as you pick up 16 grams of protein per 6-ounce serving. They are loaded with Vitamins C and B12, zinc, iron and selenium.
Treat yourself to a few of these superfoods and savor the results.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.
