“It’s snowing still…and
freezing…however…we haven’t had an earthquake lately.” –Eeyore, Winnie the
Pooh.
Ever had one of those Eeyore days? Down in the dumps, sooooo
tired (yawn) or a smidge cranky? Well it
could be the foods you are not eating and vitamins that may be missing from
your diet that are making you miss that pep in your step. These Eeyore mood busters are rich in
vitamins and minerals that help keep you energized, your blood cells
functioning normally and provide an overall better quality of life!
1) Foods High in B12 Vitamins and Folic Acid or Folate
(which is another B vitamin):
-You need between 2.4-2.8 micrograms of B12 in your diet
-You can get your daily does of this vitamin from your
diet by consuming fish like salmon and having your daily amount of dairy
products
-many breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid
also. Another reason to eat breakfast!
-Folic acid can be found in beans and spinach. Enchilada anyone?
2) Eat your Fruits and Veggies!
-not only are they high in fibre which help your gut
health, they’re a sweet treat to brighten up your day!
-choose foods that are especially colorful such as
berries and dark leafy greens
-pick fruits and veggies that are in season in your area
because they are normally higher in their nutrient content than off season ones
3) Whole grain Breads and Cereals
-these foods are high in Selenium, no not Selina like the
singer, selenium! It’s a mineral rich in
antioxidants that help prevent cell damage
-you need at least 55 micrograms a day, and you can get
70 micrograms of this mineral by eating 2 slices of whole grain bread and not
even thinking twice about it!
4) Walnuts
-or any food that is high in Omega 3 fatty acids, salmon
is well known for this
-Omega 3s are considered essential fatty acids because we
cannot produce them in our body and thus need to come from our diet
-do not exceed eating a handful of these delightful nuts
as they are high in calories
5) Daily dose of D:
-Vitamin D has been show to cure a variety of mood
disorders such as PMS and seasonal affective disorder.
-The recommended amount of Vitamin D is 600IU, but you
can go as high as 1,000-2,000 IU a day.
-Vitamin D is rare to find naturally in foods, so usually
a supplement is recommended, but you can get a jump on the D by putting on your
favorite sunnies and catching some rays outside and load up on salmon, cheese
and fortified beverages and cereals that boast this depression ditching
vitamin!
**BONUS!
-Dark chocolate can be considered an “upper” in that it
has an effect on your brain stress hormones
-some studies have shown that those that eat 1/3 of a
dark chocolate bar daily found lowered blood pressure and an overall sense of
wellbeing, and why wouldn’t you when you’re eating chocolate! Just make sure
it’s a small piece, and make sure its pure dark chocolate the higher percentage
cocoa the better (a snickers bar does NOT count….sorry guys)
Hope you give some of these mood busters aside and say
goodbye to your inner Eeyore!
Photos from Driscolls, Martha Stewart
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