Winter have you feeling the blues again? Here’s some quick foods to help boost your serotonin levels and help turn your frown upside down.
Load up on Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is needed to help convert tryptophan into serotonin, so it makes sense to eat plenty of foods rich in this nutrient during the winter months. Think: fish, eggs, brown rice, soy beans, oats, wholegrains, peanuts, walnuts, avocado and bananas.
Make a big pot of lentil soup: Lentils can curb the blues because they’re rich in folate (folate a very common vitamin deficiency, which has been linked to depression). Plus, these little legumes are loaded with B vitamins which your body needs for energy.
Up your Omega 3 essential fatty acids: Omega’s improve your mood while helping your brain and body to function properly. Think: Salmon, Walnuts and Flax
Go Green! As my clients know, I like to say a kale a day keeps the crankies away. Kale provides a healthy dose of calcium, which is important for your nerves and helps you to relax. For variety, include other calcium-rich foods in your diet, such as yogurt, tofu, sardines and turnip greens.
Dark Chocolate: Magnesium is known as the anti-stress mineral and it’s very calming and lucky for us cocoa has plenty of magnesium in it. For a treat, indulge in a small piece of dark chocolate (containing at least 70 percent cocoa).
Lastly, try some orange foods. According to color therapists, orange is a color that helps lift our mood, makes us cheerful and boosts energy levels. Think: Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Squashes, Pumpkin Seeds, Oranges
Eat up, feel better and know that winter is almost over!.
