FEELING FOGGY?
If you're finding it hard to concentrate and feel like your mind is a pile of goo, you may want to snack on some protein-rich foods. Foods like cheeses, soy foods, and turkey breast are great for making you feel alert, energized and ready to take on the day. So if your brain's feeling a bit foggy, just nibble on some low cal string cheese, a veggie burger, or some boneless, skinless chicken breast. You may be thinking more clearly in no time.
THE ULTIMATE MOOD LIFTER
A little chocolate can fix anything, right? It's sweet, delicious, creamy, and seems to make us feel a lot better once we've eaten it. Well, it turns out chocolate's mood-boosting ability is not all in our heads--eating the sweet stuff really does make us feel happy, content and soothed. Why? Well, the fat and sugar, as well as an endorphin-releasing substance called phenylethylamine, that is found in chocolate, raises both serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain. The result? Your mouth will be happy--and so will the rest of you.
STABILIZE MOOD SWINGS
Do you go from laughing to crying in a matter of seconds? Curbing mood swings may be as easy as drinking water. That's because dehydration can play a big part in our emotional stability. Don't get those recommended 8-10 cups of water a day, and you might just find yourself sweatin' the small stuff…
STOP FEELING SLUGGISH
Tired and lethargic all the time? Find it hard to get going in the morning? You may want to whip up an egg white scramble or omelette. That's because eggs are a great source of zinc, a substance that makes you feel more awake, energized and engaged.
NIX NERVOUSNESS
Stressed? Nervous? Anxious? Soothe your nerves with some skim milk or a handful of almonds. Both foods are rich in calcium, and calcium is great for reducing anxiety and making you feel calm and relaxed.
SNACK HAPPY
Salmon and strawberries may be natures equivalent of Prozac and Zoloft. That's because folic-rich foods cause a boost in serotonin levels in the brain, much like antidepressants do. So the next time you're feeling depressed, grill some salmon, or treat yourself to a bowl of strawberries. Chances are, you'll turn that frown upside down in no time.
EASE IRRITABILITY
Are you sometimes quick to snap at people? Can you sometimes be just a bit, um, witchy? Well, instead of biting someones head off, bite into a brazil nut, some fish, or garlicky veggies. The selenium found in these foods is great for beating bad moods and easing irritability.
TAME YOUR TEMPER
Feeling angry? Reach for a grapefruit, some grapes, or some carrots! All three of these great tasting foods are rich in pectin, a soluble fibre that lowers blood cholesterol. Another plus? When you're angry, your body kicks into fight or flight mode, and your heart rate, adrenaline levels and blood pressure increase. Pectin reverses the effect anger has on the body, and helps your system return to normal.
Challenging Times.. I'm hungry!
We live in interesting times and only those up for the challenge will make the changes we need to survive the current climate of divisiveness that threatens to break the threads of our society. To create the lives we want to live, in a world worth living in, we need to set aside our differences and not judge each other by our covers, what we do or do not have, our skin, certain lifestyles.
What has food got to do with community, politics, music and changing the world? Just about everything, really. The food we choose to eat creates the people that we are…our character, our emotions, our ability to manage stress…all founded in how our bodies are fed.
And this has what, you are wondering, to do with creating community? Everything. When we feel lousy, lethargic, fat, tired or sick, do we feel like running around like Superman or Rainbow Brite, making the world a better place? Or would we rather sit on the sofa, staring at our televisions, growing more and more mind-numbed to the horrific images dancing on the screen? As we fail physically, we grow depressed, hopeless and sad. And the downward spiral continues until we are as spiritually bankrupt as we are physically overdrawn.
On the other hand, when we eat foods designed by nature to nourish us as humans, we feel enlivened, vital, hearty and ready to take on the world…and all its troubles. Without the characteristic aches and pains, chronic illnesses and other plagues of modern human life, our bodies stay strong…giving us the energy, optimism and impetus to take care of ourselves, our families and friends and our communities.
Whole natural foods give us an appreciation of the planet that yields the foods we eat, an intolerance for injustice, compassion for others, courage to make change and open our hearts and minds so that we can peacefully co-exist with each other in all our splendid differences.
You may think I am crazy…or over-simplifying the reality of the world we live in. But look around…and see what you see. You will see need everywhere…Do what you can to help your fellow humans…we are in this together. We need to be healthy and vital, as people and a society to rise to the challenges we face together. And it begins in the kitchen…with our cooking…in the kitchen, we can find the strength we need to work hard and give of ourselves to re-enliven all areas we may be needed in this challenging world.
Cook well…strengthen yourself…broccoli responsible for making the world a better place? Maybe not so far-fetched after all…