Food For The Soul
Since time immemorial, mankind has waxed lyrical about the healing powers of food on our bodies and minds. According to the great Greek physician Hippocrates, medicine is almost unnecessary if you can heal the patient with food. Modern science has also shown that eating the right foods not only influences our physical well being, but also our moods, how alert we are and even our pain threshold.
So, what sort of foods nourishes both body and soul?
Proteins: Lose that sluggish feeling
When you consume foods rich with protein like meat, fish, and eggs, they tend to give you a mental boost. This is because they contain amino acids like tyrosine, which increases the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and epinephrine, which are known to boost energy. Dairy products and legumes are also protein rich.
Don’t worry, have some coffee
While we have been bombarded left, right, and center about the pitfalls of too much caffeine, a little of it can actually be a good antidepressant. As a bonus, you don’t even have to increase the daily dosage to get the same effect. Still, anything more than 2 mugs a day will qualify as caffeine addiction. Consumption of folic acid, found in leafy vegetables and citrus fruits, is also an effective means of countering the onset of depression.
Chill out carbs
When it comes to foods that soothe and pamper, it is no wonder that most comfort foods such as mashed potatoes and hearty cream soups tend to be rich in carbohydrates. When we consume carbohydrates, it triggers the release of insulin into our bloodstream, which has a calming effect. However, it is also not very wise to consume too much, as it can make you feel lethargic afterward. Carbs consumption also lowers our threshold for pain. If you need to rest and de-stress, tuck into some healthy carbs such as wholemeal bread and crackers, unprocessed rice and cereals as well as fruits.
Selenium soothes the savage beast
Researchers have observed that people who lack of selenium in their body system tend to be more anxious and more prone to irritable mood swings. Selenium is found in foods like nuts, whole grain cereals, and swordfish. Having enough of selenium will reduce the mood swing, but increased consumption will not bring you any further. As with anything else, consume in moderation.
Eggs benefit
In our haste to eliminate high-cholesterol foods from our diet, we usually overlook the nutrients that they provide. One important nutrient is choline, a B complex vitamin found in high-cholesterol foods like eggs and liver. Choline deficiency can cause problems like poor memory and loss of concentration, or even mental disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease. Good enough a reason to have eggs back into your diet.
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