We are what we eat - five simple tips

There is a proverb which says "When diet is wrong medicine is of no use. When diet is correct medicine is of no need". I feel that it is worth working constantly on tweaking the diet to find out what is right for you.  

Here are some ways to keep your mood more constant. It is true that we are what we eat and here are five eating habits to keep you feeling cheerful. We all know them but somehow we forget especially when we are feeling down and gloomy (the weather doesn't help).

Eat at regular intervals - eat often, eat light. This will prevent dips in your blood sugar which can negatively affect your mood. It is good to try and plan your meals and snacks and eat up to six times a day (meals and snacks). The better we plan the less likely we are to get to the stage when we feel really hungry.

It is important to limited your refined carbohydrates. Fizzy drinks, biscuits, white flour, sweets - I know it is obvious but sometimes we forget. These foods give you a rush of instant energy which is often what we feel we need - but they burn up quickly and cause a crash and fatigue soon after eating. There are just NOT worth it. It is also worth noting here that caffeine does the same - quick rush, sudden dip. If you can - cut it down or cut it out!

Eat a small amount of protein with every meal and snack. Protein will give you a long lasting energy - feeling alert and productive.

Eat foods rich in Omega 3 fats - these have been proven to lift moods and are recommended to alleviate depression. Oily fish - salmon or sardines, olive oils, flaxseeds and walnuts.
Boost your vitamin B12 and folic acid. These nutrients help the body to produce serotonin which helps to stabilize you mood - shellfish, fortified cereal, oatmeal, wheatgerm and vegetables are some of the many foods rich in these nutrients.

Diet is the biggest way we can help ourselves to keep our energy levels constant which is so vital when energy is limited. Fatigue is one of the first signals that our body sends us to tell us that there is a problem. By giving the body all the correct nutrients it needs to convert food into energy. Achieving constant levels of energy is best done by ridding the body of toxins while at the same time increasing nutrients to optimal levels. This means not putting the body (and the liver) under extra stress by using stimulants like alcohol, caffeine, sugar, smoking.

We already know these facts. I am not telling you anything new. But sometimes we find it hard to break away from habits that 'seem' to help by giving us an instant lift. My suggestion would be to work away at changing one thing at a time. Decide what you would like to change first (perhaps choose your worst habit!!) and draw up a chart with 21 boxes on it - a tick for everyday you achieve your goal. They say it takes 21 days to break a habit or create a new one. I personally have found that for stopping something this is possibly true but for creating a new habit that actually does become a good new habit it does take a bit longer.