Successful people don always have time to eat well. Busy schedules, new diets, and fast food can keep you from getting proper nutrition. What you might not realize is that not getting proper nutrition could be whats getting you down. There is a known correlation between mental illnesses like anxiety and depression and lack of serotonin in the brain. Another good chemical that your body can release due to certain foods is endorphins. Even missing melatonin can keep you from getting to sleep at night. Try some of these foods for anxiety and depression and see if they what the doctor ordered. is an important part of signaling in nerve cells in the brain. Lack of serotonin has shown to be a leading cause of depression and anxiety. While there are many drugs out there that can artificially enhance serotonin levels, just eating the right foods can do this as well. The two main building blocks of serotonin are tryptophan and omega 3 fatty acids. Have you ever felt like going to sleep after a large portion of Thanksgiving turkey? That the tryptophan at work. Turkey and other meats like lean beef are great sources of tryptophan. Omega 3 fatty acids are the other key ingredient, and as you may well know, fish oil is the most talked about source. Other foods that you find your omega 3 in are eggs, avocados, and flax seeds.
Endorphins are a slightly different character. While not necessary for every day functioning, they a chemical that your body produces as a painkiller and sedative. You may have heard of a high. This is the body response to the stresses of strenuous exercise by producing endorphins. Fortunately, you can generate endorphins from the food you eat as well. Dark Chocolate is a great food for both endorphins and serotonin. But, this does tend to be a temporary high. Another way to stimulate endorphin production is to eat hot and spicy foods. Your brain can be tricked into thinking your mouth is on fire and needs the endorphins to kill the pain.
Does your anxiety keep you up at night? Try some sunflower seeds before you go to bed. Sunflower seeds are a great source of melatonin, believed to be an important factor in deep sleep. Other good sources of melatonin are sour cherries, fennel seeds, alfalfa sprouts, and coriander seeds.
Try some of these foods for anxiety and depression and you be well on your way to a new and happier tomorrow.