| davemcevoy2004@yahoo.co.uk. | | | | body needs a steadysupply of B vitamins for mental |
| Best regards | | | | and physical health as theycannot be stored in the |
| David McEvoy | | | | body and are also destroyed byalcohol, tea, coffee |
| Natural Mood Boosters | | | | and nicotine. The B vitamins can befound in dark leafy |
| Mood can be defined as a state of mind or a feeling. | | | | green vegetables, beans and peas aswell as grains |
| Wewill all experience low moods, or be down in the | | | | like oats and wheat. |
| dumps fromtime to time and this is a normal part of | | | | Sunlight |
| the humancondition. Our moods are not static; they | | | | There is no doubt that an adequate dose of sunlight |
| can be affectedby many factors including diet, | | | | isessential for good mental health as sunlight |
| environmental andbiological influences and even our | | | | increasesserotonin levels. Indeed in the Northern |
| lifestyle. So is thereanything we can do to boost our | | | | Hemisphere, wherethe winter days are short and |
| mood and lift our spiritsnaturally? | | | | there is very littlesunlight, many people suffer from |
| Oily fish and fish oil | | | | SAD or Seasonal Affective |
| Arguably the most effective mood boosting foods | | | | Disorder. Symptoms include sadness, fatigue and |
| are oilyfish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, | | | | sleepdisturbances. Trying to get around 30 minutes |
| trout andanchovies or purified fish oil supplements | | | | outside inthe sun each morning can make all the |
| made from thesefish. Countless studies have now | | | | difference to yourmood. |
| demonstrated the moodenhancing effect of fish oil. | | | | Caffeine |
| So what is it about oily fishthat is so special? | | | | Caffeine is a drug that is used all over the world to |
| Oily fish contains omega 3 fatty acids, including EPA | | | | giveus a boost and wake us up, most commonly in |
| or | | | | the form ofcoffee or tea, but it is also in many |
| Eicosapentaenoic acid, which is essential for optimum | | | | medicines and softdrinks. It is classed as a stimulant |
| brainfunction on a day to day basis and as our bodies | | | | so can help us to getgoing, to feel more alert and |
| cannotproduce EPA, we have to source it from the | | | | generally give us a lift. |
| diet. If thebrain doesn't get EPA, it will use inferior | | | | However, the down side is that too much caffeine is |
| fatty acidsthat are not cut out for the job and the | | | | notgood for health and can cause shaking, rapid |
| result can bedepression and physical illness. | | | | heartbeat andincreased feelings of nervousness and |
| These days it isn't advisable to eat too much fish | | | | anxiety. Just likemany other drugs, there are also |
| due tothe amount of toxins they contain but purified | | | | nasty withdrawal symptomswhen coming off |
| fish oilsupplements are an excellent way to get your | | | | caffeine so it should be taken inmoderation. |
| daily dose of | | | | Chocolate |
| EPA and improve your mood. | | | | Chocolate contains chemicals that help to improve |
| St John's Wort | | | | moodincluding tryptophan, phenylethylamine and |
| St John's Wort is a herb that has been described by | | | | anandamidealthough the amounts of these chemicals |
| some asnature's answer to Prozac. It is an old folk | | | | in chocolate arebelieved to be too small to make any |
| remedy used totreat anxiety, sleep problems and | | | | difference. The mostlikely explanation put forward by |
| sadness. Many researchstudies have highlighted the | | | | researchers for the boostgiven to us by chocolate is |
| mood enhancing effect of St | | | | that the chemicals in chocolatehelp to sustain the |
| John's Wort supplements and it is now considered by | | | | levels of mood boosting chemicals inthe brain for |
| many tobe an effective remedy for mild depression. | | | | longer periods of time. However, the downside to |
| However, itshouldn't be taken without first seeking | | | | eating chocolate is that overindulgence can lead |
| advice from yourdoctor as St John's Wort can | | | | toweight gain and therefore an increased risk of |
| interact with other medicines,both prescription and | | | | heartdisease and other health problems. Again, should |
| over the counter, and there are | | | | be takenin moderation. |
| othercontraindications to be considered too. | | | | A final word on depression |
| Exercise | | | | It is always worth remembering that getting enough |
| One of the most effective and natural ways to | | | | sleep,eating the right foods, reducing the amount of |
| boost mood isto increase the amount of physical | | | | stress inyour life and taking time to relax each day |
| activity you do as itreleases 'feel good' chemicals in | | | | can go a longway to improving mental as well as |
| the brain and reducesstress. If going to the gym or | | | | physical wellbeing. |
| taking up a sport is not foryou, studies have shown | | | | However, if you cannot shift your low moods and |
| that taking a short daily walk inthe countryside can | | | | you find itdifficult to carry out your normal daily |
| increase feelings of well being andlift the spirits. | | | | routines, then thechances are you need some |
| B Vitamins | | | | professional help from yourdoctor in order to get well |
| Increasing consumption of foods high in B vitamins | | | | again. Don't try to battledepression on your own, |
| ortaking Vitamin B supplements can help ward off | | | | with the right help, it istreatable and the sooner it is |
| depressionand improve your health in general. The | | | | dealt with the quickeryou'll be back to your old self. |