Got the menopause blues? Why not try adding these five foods into your diet to help fight off your depression:
Fish oils: Contain omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that
depressed people often lack a fatty acid known as EPA. Participants
in a 2002 study featured in the Archives of General Psychiatry took
just a gram of fish oil each day and noticed a 50-percent decrease in
symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disorders, unexplained feelings of
sadness, suicidal thoughts, and decreased sex drive. Omega-3 fatty
acids can also lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health.
Get omega-3s through walnuts, flaxseed and oily fish like salmon or
tuna.
Brown Rice: Contains vitamins B1 and B3, and folic acid. Brown rice
is also a low-glycemic food, which means it releases glucose into the
bloodstream gradually, preventing sugar lows and mood swings. Brown
rice also provides many of the trace minerals we need to function
properly, as well as being a high-fiber food that can keep the
digestive system healthy and lower cholesterol. Instant varieties of
rice do not offer these benefits. Any time you see “instant” on a
food label, avoid it.
Brewer’s Yeast: Contains vitamins B1, B2 and B3. Brewer’s yeast
should be avoided if you do not tolerate yeast well, but if you do,
mix a thimbleful into any smoothie for your daily dose. This
super food packs a wide assortment of vitamins and minerals in a small
package, including 16 amino acids and 14 minerals. Amino acids are
vital for the nervous system, which makes brewer’s yeast a no-brainer
for treating depression.
Whole-grain oats: Contain folic acid, pantothenic acid and vitamins
B6 and B1. Oats help lower cholesterol, are soothing to the digestive
tract and help avoid the blood sugar crash-and-burn that can lead to
crabbiness and mood swings. Other whole grains such as kamut, spelt
and quinoa are also excellent choices for delivering brain-boosting
nutrients and avoiding the pitfalls of refined grains such as white
flour.
Cabbage: Contains vitamin C and folic acid. Cabbage protects against
stress, infection and heart disease, as well as many types of
cancers, according to the American Association for Cancer Research.
There are numerous ways to get cabbage into your diet; toss it in a
salad instead of lettuce, use cabbage in place of lettuce wraps, stir
fry it in your favorite Asian dish, make some classic cabbage soup or
juice it. To avoid gas after eating cabbage, add a few fennel,
caraway or cumin seeds before cooking. Cabbage is also a good source
of blood-sugar- stabilizing fiber, and the raw juice of cabbage is a
known cure for stomach ulcers.
In case you haven’t heard this before, “A healthy mind and body go hand in hand.” Enjoy Your Menopause!
Enjoy Your Menopause! 