EHMagazine Vol 39 Vol 39 | Page 49

“I have anxiety, so in looking for holistic ways to manage it, I cobbled together my own anti-anxiety diet, including healthful foods, supplements and meditation,” says Moody. “Now I feel like I can live my best life and while before, anxiety defined me, now it merely comes along with the journey – and most importantly, I still get to have my journey.” Moody went through a time when her anxiety had such a negative impact on her life, she became agoraphobic and was barely able to get out of bed, much less leave the house. Trying to go anywhere would produce panic attacks. One day, the lifelong writer decided to put her journalism skills to use and began emailing the professors of neuroscience at Stanford and researching as much as she could on how diet factors into anxiety. She gathered as much information as she could. “First and foremost, when it comes to diet, one of the biggest things related to anxiety is blood sugar – I once had a guest on my podcast who said, ‘Anxiety is a blood sugar issue until proven otherwise’ and that’s true,” says Moody. “Make sure your meals have a lot of healthy fat and protein and fiber, so that’s the magic trifecta.” Experts agree. Studies have revealed the positive results diet can have on mental health, including eating protein with breakfast to help keep blood sugar steady, complex carbohydrates, hydration and avoiding food sensitivities, plus adding omega-3 fatty acids to a daily plan. Moody advocates putting good stuff in the body rather than taking so much out. To do otherwise can lead to feelings of deprivation. “Wellness should make your life better instead of stressing you out and diet plays a huge role in that,” she says. “Food is one of life’s greatest choices, but I’m in awe of its healing properties.” Moody loves making food that helps the body feel good and energized after eating it. Long term, she hasn’t taken as many sick days or had as many panic attacks since changing her lifestyle to embrace her anti-anxiety diet. “To tune in to how your body actually feels is intuitive eating, listening to your body – because we are trained over time with marketing and media messages, that people don’t often know how to tune in after they eat something,” says Moody. “For example, if you are craving a fast food cheeseburger, sit there afterward to see how you feel and don’t assume that bad feeling is the norm or a baseline.” For the University of California Berkeley graduate, Garden of Life products are important items in her toolbox to keep anxiety at bay and stay healthy overall. She is a staunch advocate for Dr. Formulated Probiotics Mood+ and swaps in the Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care if her gut is taking a beating. When exposed to more pathogens, such as when traveling, Moody says she is never without Garden of Life’s mykind Organics Oil of Oregano, six drops in eight ounces of water. “Oregano kills good and bad bacteria so only take when you are sick or are exposed to sickness or large crowds and if you’re using it long-term, replenish with good bacteria like Ultimate Care probiotics four to five hours later so they are not in the stomach at the same time,” says Moody. “The best part is supplements like this one come in tiny bottles, so they are TSA approved to bring on any trip.” Moody loves all things elderberry, including mykind Organics syrup and gummies, which she uses preventatively, along with Garden of Life unflavored Grass Fed Collagen Peptides. She begins each day with her own recipe for her chocolate cherry cardamom smoothie, brimming with all good things. It contains: • 2 scoops of Garden of Life Unflavored Collagen Peptides • 3-4 cups of loosely packed leafy greens, like spinach or mixed greens • Two cups of frozen pitted cherries • 1 avocado • 2 Tablespoons raw cacao • ½ teaspoon cardamom powder • 1 banana • Pinch of fine grain sea salt Moody’s smoothie makes two servings, perfect for yourself and your wellness buddy, or to save for the next day. “All smoothies should have a pinch of sea salt in them which produces more digestive juices to digest it better,” says Moody. “And always include spices and seasonings.” One of her best secrets to always have plenty of leafy greens is to freeze them. Moody cautions that raw kale is hard on the gut and the thyroid so much better for the body when cooked. So, for her smoothie, stick to softer leafy greens, which conveniently come in bags chopped and washed. “Stick those bags right in your freezer for space to have plenty for smoothies, because while you wouldn’t want that frozen lettuce texture for a salad, putting them in a smoothie is fine,” she suggests. Moody’s recipes are food for the soul, too. In her book Healthier Together, Moody has designed more than 100 mouthwatering recipes for two and best of all, they are gluten-free, dairy-free and plant-centered. Readers can discover how to make dishes like her cardamom banana bread pancakes with candied coffee walnuts, chocolate tahini brownie bites, cornflake “fried” chicken and her fan-obsessed General Tso’s cauliflower. Her approach isn’t limited to couples or even neighbors – along Moody’s tour to promote wellness and on her podcast, she hears stories of how friends near and far are embracing the recipes. Named on Epicurious’s lists of best cookbooks for spring, Healthier Together accompanies Moody’s other books, including The Actually Delicious 10-Day Detox, which she wrote after years working in the health and wellness world. It includes ten three-meals-a-day recipes for diners short on time and long on health with the goal being fewer leftovers, with shopping lists. She is also the author of Glow Pops: Super-Easy Superfood Recipes to Help You Look and Feel Your Best: A Cookbook, her go-to account of foods in the fast lane of healthful eating. Follow along on Moody’s adventures on her website at LizMoody.com and on Instagram at @lizmoody. Catch her podcast on Apple, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. Extraordinary Health ™ • Vol 39 47