Kickstarter #3 - Food

It’s often said that you are what you eat. But apart from how you look, what you eat also has the power to impact how you feel. A survey of 200 people by the Food & Mood Project in the UK found that 88% of them reported that their mental health improved significantly when they changed their diet. It was established that cutting down on certain foods or what are termed "stressors", and increasing the amount of what are called "supporters", had a beneficial effect on their mood. What then are good foods to keep our spirits up and our energy levels high?

Dr. Jean Carper's book, “Food — Your Miracle Medicine” points us directions. Protein-rich foods are recommended, like low-fat seafood, non-fat milk, low-fat or non-fat yogurt, nuts, legumes, broccoli and easy-to-buy fruits like apples, pears, peaches, grapes. Pretty healthy stuff! Protein breaks down into amino acids when you digest it, increasing the production of neurotransmitters, and hence the rise in energy and alertness. To fight depression, feed yourself foods like beans, pasta, vegetables, cereal, bread and crackers. Foods that contain folic acid like spinach and other dark leafy greens also get the thumbs up. There’s another category of food that contains selenium. It’s been found that those with low selenium levels show a greater incidence of depression. That being the case, you might want to stock up on brazil nuts, canned light tuna, cooked oysters, sunflower seeds, clams and garlic .

I wouldn’t go as far as to say that food IS the answer to life’s problems. It isn’t. Your spirits aren’t going to be uplifted just by digging into a lavish buffet spread. If anything, you’d have to be lifted out of the restaurant if you over eat. Foods have their different properties, some are beneficial and good for your health and well-being, while others can work against you.

When you choose your next meal, snack or beverage, stop to think about how you’d like to feel straight after. The food-mood response is short-term. But if you need a pick-me-up right here right now, how about whipping up a linguini dish with garlic and clams, or snack on peaches and pears in non-fat yoghurt? Of course, you need no reminding what chocolates can do for you!