BY PRIYANKA BHATTACHARYA
Good food gives you hope.
You just need to eat the right kind.
The key to understanding the connection between the food we eat
and our mood and levels of alertness lies in knowing about how the brain functions.
The brain communicates by chemical substances passed from one nerve cell to the next.
These chemicals, called Neurotransmitters, are made in the brain from the food we eat.
The neurotransmitters that are most sensitive to diet and influential in affecting the mood are Serotonin, Nor Epinephrine and Dopamine. Dopamine and Nor Epinephrine are alertness chemicals to help us think and react faster or get motivated. Serotonin is a calming chemical to dissipate stress and tension.
FOODS THAT CURE DEPRESSION
TUNA
A study in the Alternative Medicine Review found a fifth of depressed people lack B6. And there’s nothing fishy about this bit: Tuna supplies approximately 60% of your daily allowance of B6.
DARK CHOCOLATE
Chalk one up for chocolate: It releases pleasure enhancing endorphins into the brain and contains phenyl ethylamine, a stimulant associated with love. The higher the cocoa content, the better you feel. So head for the darkest.
HUMMUS
Pack on muscle with a smile: High in protein and fibre, hummus helps avoid blood sugar fluctuations with a slow, sustained release of glucose into the blood stream. Depression and mood swings are related to poor blood sugar control, so scarf this now!
WALNUTS
These nuts will put a smile on your dial. They’re an excellent source of Omega-3s which help brain cells and mood-lifting neurotransmitters function properly.
FOODS THAT SOOTHE RAGE
WATERMELON
This juicy fruit contains Citrulline and Arginine, chemicals that trigger production of Nitric Oxide, a compound that relaxes your body’s blood vessels. Watermelon is also reputed to be the only natural answer to Viagra.
GINSENG TEA
Ginseng has been shown to improve the body’s response to Stress and decrease feelings of Anxiety. Sipping it slowly will also give you time to think over your initial reaction, which might have worse repercussions later.
KIDNEYS
Slip some into a mutton curry when you’ve banged your car on the way back home. A study in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience showed kidneys contain high levels of Phosphatidylserine, which are associated with reducing stress levels and lifting mood.
SALMON
The Omega-3 fatty acid in salmon, called Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), isn’t just good for your skin. Studies show people who eat ample amounts of DHA have a much lower incidence of deoression. aggressiveness and hostility.
FOODS THAT WAKE YOU UP
LEMONS
Lemons have a wide variety of uses from curing asthma to liver stimulation. To wake up, smell the fruit or lemon oil or suck on a lemon drop—ft’s an instant refresher, which is why it’s a common base for room fresheners and scents.
BROCCOLI
This green contains Boron, which is responsible for hand-eye co-ordination, attention and short- term memory. Boron-rich foods also maintain healthy bone and blood-sugar levels.
APPLES
A recent Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease research shows apples protect the brain from memory loss and senility due to their Quercetin content. They’r almost as effective as caffeine as the fructose content doesn’t bring you back to a slump like coffee would.
ORANGE JUICE
We eat oranges or drink Orange Juice in the morning to wake us up.Oranges contain vitamin C that beats fatigue to keep us active throughout the day. Try eating one instead of drinking the juice to keep calories at bay.