Feel good with food?
YES!
Turns out this list of feel-good superfoods from 2015 still rings true today. Once again, we can always count on plants as feel-good superfoods.
Since stress is the ultimate cause of dis-ease attributing to anxiety and depression, plus manifesting as countless physical ailments, here is a super list of superfoods to de-stress.
Plants, plus other gifts of the earth, not only appear in the Top 3, but also show up down the line in the form of teas, mushrooms, and other adaptogenic herbs.
1. Leafy Greens. Plant foods like Swiss chard and spinach are rich in magnesium, the natural “chill pill” which helps regulate the brain-adrenal gland axis.
2. Avocado. Super fruit. Great for brain health and anxiety. Contain potassium which lowers blood pressure. B Vitamins and monounsaturated fats needed for neurotransmitter and brain health.
3. Asparagus. Sulfur-rich. Contains the special B vitamin, folic acid. Low levels of folic acid, linked to neurotransmitter impairment, can lead to anxiety. Plus potassium which lowers blood pressure.
4. Foods with Tryptophan. Turkey and other poultry. Veggie options include pumpkin, potato, walnuts, cauliflower, cucumber, mushrooms, leafy greens and tomatoes. Tryptophan, one of the nine essential amino acids, is what makes us sleepy after Thanksgiving Dinner. Precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin, which helps you to feel calm. Tryptophan in the form of meat shows support of reduced anxiety disorders. Go eco as much as possible: organic; free range, grass and vegetarian fed, no GMOs, only the good stuff for your body and brain and loved ones.
5. Fatty Meat. Inflammation is one consideration when it comes to brain health and anxiety. Omega-3 fats have been shown to decrease anxiety. Omega-rich foods like wild salmon, sardines, grass-fed beef, and venison can help decrease inflammation and help cortisol and adrenaline from spiking. Go eco as much as possible: organic; free range, grass and vegetarian fed, no GMOs, only the good stuff for your body and brain and loved ones.
6. Raw Cacao. The healing benefits of cacao are miraculous. It can improve your memory, reduce heart disease, shed fat, boost immunity and create loads of energy.
Contains four times the antioxidant content of regular processed dark chocolate, 20 times more than blueberries and 119 times more than bananas. This makes it effective in fighting free radicals which cause cancer, helping to boost immunity and preventing disease at large.
Raw cacao also has the mood booster, anandamide or the "bliss molecule," helping create feelings of utopia. Additionally, phenethylamine, which triggers the release of endorphins and other pleasure chemicals making it an aphrodisiac. Its chemicals also help balance mood swings, making it supportive of hormone imbalance from PMS. What’s not to love?
7. Chamomile Tea. Sip on this natural anti-anxiety medicine for its natural calming effect. This soothing, mild tea was shown to significantly decrease anxiety symptoms in just a few weeks! Recommended: organic and sustainable offerings.
8. Rooibos Tea. Rooibos, or African red bush tea, is a delicious way to bring a natural calm to your day. Researchers are looking into its effect on cortisol as it seems to have a balancing effect on this main stress hormone. Recommended: organic and sustainable offerings.
9. Full-Fat Kefir. In functional medicine, the gut is considered the "second brain" because it's home to 95% of your "feel good" hormone, serotonin. With more than 100 million neurons, your gut's health is essential to manage anxiety.
Bacterial imbalances in your gut can alter brain chemistry, and kefir, an ancient fermented dairy drink, might just be the most powerful probiotic ever. It also has fat soluble vitamins A, D and K2, all important for brain health. There are plenty of other options in the way of probiotics. Session It
10. Adaptogenic Herbs. The term adaptogen refers to plant-based compounds that promote ‘balance” within a biochemical pathway. Adrenal adaptogens, as a de-stress example, are commonly used to support both underactive as well as overactive adrenal gland activity. Think of adaptogens as balancing your system in the same way the thermostat balances the temperature in your home. They are both gentle and powerfully effective. Best way to employ them is to consult our functional medicine doctor to be sure you are consuming exactly what your body and brain need. No two human biocomputers are alike and what works for a pro athlete may not work for you. Contact us today.
11. Mushrooms. Healing mushrooms are one of the most natural and accessible types of medicine on the planet. The reason they are so effective when taken for medicinal purposes is because humans share 30-50% of the DNA found in mushrooms. They are an excellent source of Vitamin D which in deficiency is linked to much dis-ease from heart disease to depression. Test drive the following:
Lion’s Mane – a prized neuro-regenerative supplement. Aids brain fog while boosting cognitive function. Calming.
Cordyceps – increase stamina, endurance, and act as a gentle stimulant, increasing energy, reducing fatigue.
Reishi – numerous benefits, but reishi fight mood disorders. Natural anxiety remedy. Help heal adrenal fatigue leading to increased energy. Mood booster.
Eating is a basic pleasure of life. so if we learn to love to eat plus de-stress, sleep well, let go of anxiety and feel good in the process - even better. These superfoods will make you go “Ahhhhhhh”. Questions? Ask away.