Eat away the winter blues
Not feeling the season of good cheer? It may be time to boost your tryptophan intake as part of your varied diet.
Fact: the amino acid tryptophan helps the body produce neurotransmitters serotonin (aka happy hormone) and melatonin which aids sleep.
If you have been experiencing mood changes, low mood or depression please see your doctor as a matter of urgency. You need to have a medical assessment as medication and treatment may be necessary. You can still include the following foods while you do that.
Your tryptophan-rich shopping list (with added benefits)!
Chicken is also abundant in B vitamins, which play a role in having energy!
Turkey
Rich in iron, zinc and potassium, turkey is an all round winter winner.
Fibrous whole oats can help maintain balanced blood sugar levels, which in turn helps maintain balanced moods.
Although I would recommend that you eat the whole egg, nutritionally-dense egg whites contain most of a whole egg’s protein, so don’t skip on that part.
Brown rice’s fibre content can help keep you regular
Rich in health fats, sesame seeds may assist in energy production and mood.
This high protein cheese will help keep you satiated. But remember, cheese should always be eaten in moderation.
May help ease muscle tension with its supply of magnesium.
The banana’s potassium supply can be beneficial in reducing eases anxiety, while aiding the whole nervous system.
The fig is a delectable and also filled with fibre!
More omega-3s and fibre make the walnut a go-to winter winner.
Abundant in fatty acids, minerals and fibre. Time to make some guacamole dip!
Concerned there may be more to your blues? Please see your doctor as soon as a matter of urgency – low mood, mood swings and depression are serious and while food plays an important role in our overall health, you need to be under the care of a medical doctor as medication and other treatment may be needed. If you would like to see me for food and lifestyle advice, book in for a one-to-one consultation.
Nourishing well wishes,
Angelique
Consult your doctor or health care practitioner for any health problems, and before embarking on any new health regimes, using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications or food programmes.
Part of my work in clinic is to identity and address the root cause which is responsible for the symptoms a client is experiencing. The most common underlying condition I see is unbalanced hormones. Once I noticed that balancing hormones leads to the reduction of so many other symptoms, I knew I had to create a simple plan to help people understand and support their hormones.
Follow the plan
