Our personal and professional lives have a strong influence on how we feel, but sometimes they are arranged according to our thoughts, and yet we feel a lowering of mood, a drop in energy, some kind of strange discouragement. Theoretically, we should not feel this way, so we are beginning to analyse what could be the cause of this. It turns out that in many cases this can be caused by an inadequate diet,
Our personal and professional lives have a strong influence on how we feel, but sometimes they are arranged according to our thoughts, and yet we feel a lowering of mood, a drop in energy, some kind of strange discouragement. Theoretically, we should not feel this way, so we are beginning to analyse what could be the cause of this. It turns out that in many cases this can be caused by an inadequate diet, because the ingredients in the food affect not only our body weight or the development of certain diseases, but also how we feel. Fortunately, we can prevent this by enriching our diet, because there are certain ingredients that can effectively prevent the further development of unpleasant emotional states. Here are examples:
VITAMIN D
Our skin produces it under the influence of sunlight. Depending on many factors such as clothing, length and frequency of our exposure to the sun, whether we use creams with UV filters and, above all, in which climatic zone we live, its level in the body is correct or there are deficiencies. We are particularly exposed to them in the autumn-winter period. Since vitamin D is present in very small quantities in food, it is recommended that it be supplemented during this time.
FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN B6 AND B12
In case of deficiency of these ingredients in our food, the biochemical pathways are disturbed by serotonin, commonly called “luck hormone”, because it makes us capable of feeling euphoric states and pleasure. That is why the presence of folic acid and vitamins B₆ and B₁₂ helps to prevent depressive states and to induce apathy. The best sources of folic acid are mainly green leafy vegetables, pulses, yeast, chicken egg yolk and nuts. Vitamin B6 can be found in meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, yeast, vegetables (cabbage, green peas, cauliflower, carrots, spinach, potatoes, beans), wheat sprouts, soya, peanuts and walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds and bananas. Rich sources of vitamin B12 are meat, fish, milk, eggs, cheese, cold cuts and yeast. In plant products, this vitamin is practically absent.
TRIPTOFAN
Our body is not able to produce it by itself because it is an exogenous amino acid. It is from it, among other things, that the already mentioned ‘luck hormone’, i.e. serotonin, is produced, which is why it is so important that an appropriate amount of it is included in our diet. It can be found in poultry meat, fish, eggs, pulses, linseed, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.
OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
Much good in the context of cardiovascular disease prevention is said to be docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which belong to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. DHA and EPA also affect the functioning of the central nervous system, so their deficiency is associated with the feeling of fatigue and the appearance of depressive states.
NATURAL ANTIDEPRESSANTS – HERBS
St. John’s Herb or St. John’s Wort can be used to help treat mild to moderate depression because it contains compounds with an antidepressant effect. Ginseng is another herbal antidepressant. Its active ingredients (ginsenosides) affect the transmission of serotonin signals. However, one should be cautious when using preparations containing extracts from both these herbs when combining them with contraceptives or anticoagulants, as they interact. Another herb that will help to prevent depressive states and to relieve mood disorders resulting from premenstrual syndrome is saffron called the world’s most expensive spice.
