July: The link between food + mood

Our mental health and our mood can be influenced by the food we eat and the way we nourish our body. By creating healthy meals and making healthy choices we can positively contribute to our own mental health and how we feel every day.

One example of this food and mood link is, we crave foods with high sugar and high fat content when we are feeling low, stressed and under pressure. Yet, these are the least likely foods to benefit our health. So, here are some helpful starting points to consider when thinking about what you eat and how that might be affecting your mood and overall wellbeing.

Nutrients and food that can improve our mood:

• Fibre: wholegrain foods, fruit and vegetables

• Unsaturated fat: olive oil, avocado, almonds

• Antioxidants: dark chocolate, berries, green leafy vegetables

• Omega-3 fatty acids: fish and seafood, nuts and seeds

Foods that can negatively affect our mood:

• High salt and high sugar snacks

• Processed meats

• Confectionary or ‘junk’ food

• Refined cereals and grains: white flour, white bread and pastries

Foods to swap these with:

• Dark chocolate, fruit and nuts

• Lean cuts of meat and fish

• Homemade dips and wholegrain crackers/bread/vegetables

• Wholemeal flour, dark bread varieties and wholemeal pasta and rice

Something we are loving - tacos

Tacos are the way to a nutritionists heart, its fresh, zesty, full of fibre, clean and doesn't have to be complicated, but oh so nourishing. 

One recipe I found you might like to try, this website had heaps of other vego options too. 

Want to learn more about the link between food and mood and the research behind it? Check this out.

Or if you are in need of some practical tips without the science reach out; we offer nutrition one on one coaching that could be a perfect place to start.

Thanks for scrolling, that's blog number two - talk next month community.