Feed Your Mind with Mood-Boosting

We enjoy sugar because we’ve been programmed to for survival, a trick which served us well until we hit the modern age of over processing and we began to strip foods away to within an inch of their lives. These new ‘naked’ foods are devoid of nutrients and gut-friendly fiber, and simply provide empty calories, which can leave our bodies confused and overworked. This is especially the case with white, refined sugar and artificial sweeteners. An excess of refined sugar in conjunction with a diet high in saturated fat is the culprit behind so many different health conditions including inflammatory diseases, type 2 diabetes, cancers, obesity, migraines, hormonal imbalance and those continual cravings that you just can’t control. And don't assume you are out of the woods if you choose artificial chemical sweeteners to get your fix instead. The truth is, you're actually doing your body more harm than good by choosing them. Aspartame, which is one of the most widely chosen sweeteners and finds its way into diet sodas, low sugar foods and even gum, has been proven to be cancer-causing, can actually stimulate fat storage in your body and aggravates a whole host of nasty health problems. What Can I Enjoy Instead? So what options do you have if you still like a little sweetness in your life but are eliminating processed sugars? Do you have to quit sugar altogether or is there a healthier option? Let’s find out. The best way to enjoy sweetness in your diet is by consuming wholefoods such as fruit. They provide everything that nature intended and have a stable impact upon our blood sugar levels because of the nutrients, water and fiber they contain. They keep our taste buds happy and provide us with clean energy whilst taking better care of our bodies. But if you really do need that little something to add to your herbal tea or bowl of oatmeal and fruit just won’t hit the 

spot, try more natural sweeteners such as coconut nectar, coconut sugar, pure maple syrup or stevia

 Feed Your Mind with Mood-Boosting Foods 

A simple way to help reach your happines potential is to regularly consume ‘mood-boosting’ foods. 

Low mood and depression can often be the result of low levels of a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which is used for mood regulation, sexual desire and function, regulating our appetites, helping us to sleep, boosting our memory and learning abilities, regulating our temperatures and is even used in regulating our social behavior. By eating the right kinds of food, we can boost the levels of serotonin in our bodies and so effectively tackle mood-related problems without resorting to prescription drugs with the nasty side effects! Whilst foods themselves don’t actually contain serotonin, many do contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which the body can use to increase levels of serotonin in the body when eaten with carbohydrates. Luckily this amino acid is found abundantly in many fruits and veggies that contain protein, iron, vitamin B₂and also vitamin B₆ - such as raw nuts (especially walnuts), plantains, pineapples, bananas, kiwis, plums, tomatoes and tofu, to name just a few. Include more of these foods in your diet and you will feel brighter, happier, more energetic and stronger.   Sounds good, doesn’t it