TIDINGS THAT INSPIRE
Increasing Happiness
With Food
By Jennifer Mwangangi-Ayoti
R
esearch has now proven that we
generate energy, it is our choice.
Just like a power plant, we can
choose to generate happiness. Research
has also shown that there is a link between
what we eat and our mood. Your mood is
closely connected to the nutrients you
take in and absorb.
Anxiety, happiness, depression, mood
swings are linked to the food that we eat.
When patients with mood imbalances
come to me for help, the first thing we do
is to check for nutrient deficiencies that
may be causing or contributing to the
problem.
Let’s now discover the stunning power of
some of the mood-boosting foods that are
locally available. Here are my first top 3
foods.
Avocado
Avocados are rich in B vitamins -
particularly vitamin B6. And they are a
rich source of folate. One avocado provides
around one-third of your daily folate
needs. And when it comes to magnesium,
one avocado provides around 15% of your
daily needs.
The goal of many antidepressants is to
increase serotonin uptake. As it turns
out, B-vitamins can have a similar
effect. Your body needs Vitamin B6 to
make mood-boosting neurotransmitters,
including serotonin (happy hormone),
norepinephrine (corrects hypotension),
and melatonin (sleep hormone). Studies
have found that B6 deficiency can lead to
depression.
Chocolate is considered one of the top
mood-boosting foods because it contains
Phenethylamine (hormone), which trig-
gers the release of pleasurable endor-
phins. When you become infatuated or
fall in love, the brain releases Phenethyl-
amine. It also potentiates the action of
dopamine, a neurochemical associated
with sexual arousal and pleasure.
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Magnesium on the other hand is your
relaxation mineral. You must have
adequate levels for your cells to make
energy, for many different chemical
pumps to work, to stabilize membranes
and to help muscles relax. Anything that is
tight, irritable, crampy and stiff - whether
it is a body part or mood - is a sign of
magnesium deficiency.
Clearly, Avocado is your locally available
super food!
Chocolate
Yap… you knew it was coming; didn’t
you? Chocolate’s remarkable effects on our
mood is no longer a secret.
Chocolate is considered one of the top
mood-boosting foods because it contains
Phenethylamine (hormone), which triggers
the release of pleasurable endorphins.
When you become infatuated or fall in
love, the brain releases Phenethylamine.
It also potentiates the action of dopamine,
a neurochemical associated with sexual
arousal and pleasure.
Another substance found in chocolate is
anandamide. This is neurotransmitter that
stimulates a sense of happiness and mental
well-being; it’s also referred to as ‘the bliss
molecule’ because of the role it plays in
producing feelings of happiness.
As if that weren’t enough, chocolate
also contains polyphenols, which have
been shown to have a positive impact on