Foods That Make You Feel Happy

Foods That Make You Feel Happy

Is weather getting you down - some easy changes to your diet will soon have you feeling tip top.

Hippocrates was right when he said that you are what you eat, but there was something he left out - the food that you eat also affects the way that you feel.

So what can you do to boost your mood, to make you feel up when your brain says you're feeling down, to give you more energy when your body says it just can't cope, or to make you feel more beautiful when the mirror says you've got spots and are having a seriously bad hair day?
Are you feeling depressed?

SAD (seasonal affective disorder) clicks in for many at the end of October, when the clocks go back, but for those who suffer for the entire winter, there are several essential foods that you need to be eating. They include dark-green leafy vegetables for folic acid; shellfish, pumpkin seeds and oysters for their high zinc content - zinc deficiency is the most common cause of exhaustion and depression; liver (except for pregnant women) and other red meats for iron and vitamin B12 to prevent anaemia; and porridge, muesli, brown rice and wholewheat cereals such as Shredded Wheat and Weetabix for other B vitamins - which are often known as the nerve protectors.

You also need to get out into the sunshine whenever you can. Apart from making you feel better (and giving you some exercise), the sun will help your body absorb vitamin D, which is essential, particularly for women, to prevent osteoporosis.
Do you have no energy?

Well, it's not surprising, when the weather is so lousy. Dress up warmly and get out there and do something. It might seem like a paradox, but taking some exercise does, in fact, increase your energy levels.

Spicy foods, particularly ones containing chilli, will give you that extra boost you need to brave the wide outdoors. However the most important thing is to eat dishes that offer a balanced mixture of complex carbohydrates, such as pasta, for quick-release energy, and protein from cheese, eggs, poultry and meat, which provide an energy store that will see you through the day.
Does your skin look awful?

It would do if you've spent the last five months in centrally heated houses and offices. Our bodies are made up of around 90 per cent water, so it's not surprising that when we deprive it of this essential ingredient we start to look a bit crumbly.

What you need is a good detoxing regime: no processed foods, no salt, no preservatives, no flavourings and no colourings. Watercress soup is an ideal detox dish. In addition, choose any relevant supplements from those listed.
Are you putting on weight?

It is tempting to pretend that you're a hedgehog and go to ground for the winter, but summer isn't that far away, and you may be in your swimsuit sooner than you think.

First, you need to get out there and be a bit more active. But following these healthy eating plans will also help you lose the pounds:
Day 1

Breakfast Half a large melon
Lunch Vegetable soup and a vegetable salad with brown rice
Dinner Cooked cauliflower sprinkled with cheese and browned under the grill. A baked potato
Day 2

Breakfast Porridge (not instant). One slice of wholemeal toast with a smear of unsalted butter.
Lunch Salad of shredded white cabbage, orange juice, dried apricots, crushed walnuts and a dressing of live yoghurt and a little runny honey.
Dinner Grilled salmon steaks with a coulis of stewed gooseberries, boiled new potatoes and steamed veg.

Michael's book 'Good Mood Food' is published by Cassell at £10.99.


HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS
To beat depression

* St John's wort is the best natural antidepressant.
* The Swiss herbal tonic Bio-Strath Elixir is great for mind and body.
* Valerian, hops or passiflora will help you to get a good night's sleep.

To keep your energy up

* Co-enzyme Q10 aids efficient conversion of food into energy.
* Ortis ginseng will give you a quick energy lift.
* Rio Trading guarana is an amazing herb for sustained energy release.

To fight bad skin

* Evening primrose oil is very effective for hormone-related skin trouble.
* Vitamin E can come from good olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocados,
but a supplement helps, too.


To keep weight under control

* There aren't any pills that will control your weight. The only sensible way to lose weight is to cut down gradually on the amount of food you eat and be more physically active. If you are restricting your diet, it makes sense to take a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.

Before taking any supplement, consult a pharmacist or doctor.

* Excerpt and based on article from Waitrose.com


Recipe of The Day :


Check out Happycow


Amaranth Banana Flapjacks (Vegan)

Ingredients:

1 cup amaranth flour
1 tablespoon Ener-G egg replacer
1/2 teaspoon guar gum
1/4 cup water
water
1 banana

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Instructions:
Mix flour, egg replacer, and guar gum into dough. Preheat non-stick skillet, and pour mixture into pancake sizes onto hot skillet. Add banana slices so that they still sink into the pancakes partly with top side on the surface. Turn pancakes when ready. Banana slices should come in contact with the skillet. Plate pancakes with banana slices facing up. Serve immediately.

Serving size: 4

Prep time: 15 minutes