Ever wonder what foods to eat when you’re depressed??
Well, stick with me till the end, ok?
The human personality is one so unique and complex, nicely built in such a way that everything we do, think, and feel is intriguing, and even deep within our stillness, our stories whisper. Funny how we evolve around what we eat.
Our moods, our countenance, and even our choice of words at least strategic times. All these are In one way or another connected to the food we eat. Unique as we are, delicately formed, believe it or not, we utmostly are what we eat.
Esteem, self-worth, mood, and feelings can be sponsored by this one factor, and as a result, we tend to turn to foods often when we’re depressed.
The study reveals that there are actually foods to eat when going through emotional stress and foods to avoid as well. As much as this helps in effecting changes, it is, however, important to consume these foods minimally.
We’re going to explore these foods together, foods to eat when depressed.
6 Foods to Eat When Depressed
1. Lots of Proteins
Foods rich in protein are known to be rich in energy and bodybuilding but aside from this consuming foods with protein has been discovered to help promote good enthusiasm (energy) and a clear mind.
An example of such foods includes soy products, beans, milk, yoghurt, nuts, leafy greens, and whole grains. All these are good foods to eat when depressed.
Common sources of Omega-3s include; Fish and other kinds of seafood, Dark-green leafy vegetables, Plant oils; canola oils, soybean oil, and flaxseed oil), Nuts, and seeds.
Chocolate contains sugars (glucose),) which helps with energy supply and may overall improve your mood. Research has it that chocolate supplies the body with nutritive compounds, including caffeine, N-acylethanolamine, and theobromine — a compound chemically related to the cannabinoids that have been linked to improving moods.
Even more, dark chocolate also contains health-promoting flavonoids, which have been proven to heighten blood flow to the brain, suppress inflammation, and promote overall brain health.
Aside from their awesome taste and smell, it’s important to stick to dark chocolate because it contains fewer sugars and is richer in flavonoids.
4. Nuts and seeds
Nuts and seeds are good sources of plant-based proteins, fibres, and good fats. When consumed they release a type of amino acid called the Tryptophan. This amino acid is of high necessity due to its ability to produce mood-boosting serotonin in the body.
Exciting examples of such nuts and seeds are peanuts, walnuts, pumpkins, cashews, and sunflower seeds. These nuts and seeds have been studied through the years and observed to contain a very reasonable amount of zinc and selenium, which are vital for neurological activities.
They enhance brain functionality and, therefore, could be ideal natural antidepressants.
5. Coffee
However bad this might be when consumed in excess, a very good cup of coffee could actually save the day.
Interestingly enough, coffee has been discovered to contain several intelligent compounds with amazing health benefits. Caffeine for one inhibits adenosine; a naturally occurring compound that promotes tiredness and chlorogenic acid, which has a high chances of positively influencing our mood.
This implies that coffee contains rich compounds that have an effect on our general mood.
6. Bananas
We know too well about bananas. Oh! Bliss summer in mouth!
These yellow lovelies are rich in vitamin B6 which works quite similar to serotonin. This instigates feel-good emotions through neurotransmitters.
Bananas are very delightful fruits and could actually help turn a frown around, they’re rich in fiber and healthy sugar and have been widely acknowledged for themany medicinal roles they play.
One of these could be to actually help with depression. We all know too low blood sugar levels could induce feelings of irritability and insane mood swings, and Banana’s got you covered on this one. Aside from their vibrant features, they sustain a level of prebiotics supply in their rich fibers, which help source healthy bacteria to the gut. This has been severely linked to actually lowering the drives of mood disorders. This is definitely a ‘must try’ for me.
Conclusion
More examples of foods to eat when depressed could include, oats, berries, whole grains, and many more.
As much as these studies were done on humans their effective changes and improvement, were observed. They may however not be entirely conclusive, as more research is still being carried out and their overall effect may vary from person to person.
A number of these pro tips have been utmostly helpful to me and I will strongly advise you to try them out yourself and share your experience with us, we would really love to hear which of these foods worked for you.
The use of herbs and spices dates back to our ancestors. It’s always amazing how they were able to feed brilliantly back in times when civilization wasn’t fully in existence. They gain such mastery over plants and herbs, so much so that their health is always apt for their flourishing. It is said that garlic and onions were in use 4,500 years ago, and specified spices were used in preserving foods before technology came into place.
Herbs and spices are plant-sourced substances used for their fragrance, flavor, or medical attributes. In a botanical sense, a “herb” is an herbaceous plant that doesn’t have a woody stem and has a low lifespan, especially during the winter. There are, however, very common spices with great health benefits.
Below are a few of them and more ways they could be used in response to their health properties:
Common Spices and Their Health Benefits
1. Turmeric
Turmeric is a very common spice with vast, unthinkable health benefits. This spice is an Indian plant from the ginger family. It contains a color pigment called curcumin, which is vastly responsible for its bright hue and health benefits. The health benefits include the prevention of type 2 diabetes and helping fight inflammation in the body.
More benefits of this common spice have been in use for thousands of years as a medical procedure for treating a variety of ailments.
Some examples of such are joint pain, diabetes, arthritis, digestive mishaps, and cancer.
More Ways to Use Turmeric
This vibrant spice can be used in coloring curry powders, butter, mustards, sauces, cheese, grains, or smoothies. It can also be used in the preparation of teas and golden milk. In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties, they also contain strong antioxidant substances that are good for the skin. Turmeric gives the skin an extra glow and can be used as a face mask.
Large consumption of turmeric supplements is, however, not advisable as they can notably spike the level of urinary oxalate, leading to a high chance of kidney stone formation. Also, when being used as face masks, due to the high color pigment in turmeric, they are most likely to leave a stain on the skin if applied overnight. This could be easily taken care of by washing the face with milk.
2. Black Pepper
Black pepper is especially my favorite. It has an intense spicy flavor and leaves your meal surprisingly aromatic.
One of the benefits of this common spice is that it helps the digestive system secrete more nutrients from foods eaten. Even more, it has been discovered that black pepper has anti-tumor and anti-mutagenic properties. This means that it helps fight against genetic mutations. How interesting!
It also has a protective antitoxin that protects the body against cell damage. Not only that, it hastens the absorption of specific drugs.
More Ways to Use Black Pepper
This grounded spice can be used in the supreme garnishing of soups, spiking of salads, and flavoring of meats, fish, pasta, vegetables, and more.
Don’t be scared to add a little sprinkle to your sauce dips, eggs, porridge, pepper soups, of course, and fruits (avocado, pumpkins, etc.). It’s, in fact, a very good mix with turmeric.
3. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is also a very common spice with interesting health benefits. It’s a seed-derived spice known for its intriguing scent and warm taste. It’s mostly used to add flavor to various varieties of baked foods, puddings, meats, sausages, vegetables, beverages, and sauces.
One of the benefits of this common spice is that it helps a great deal in fighting germs and cavities with its antibacterial properties. In addition to these great facts, nutmegs also contain anti-inflammatory components that can stop the growth of cancer tumours.
Nutmeg is indeed very interesting, but an overdose of it could become a hallucinogen, and for this very reason, it’s currently banned in Saudi Arabia.
More Ways to Use Nutmeg
Nutmeg sure does make coffee taste great—just a tint of it, too, in the teas, hot cocoa, and warm milk. They could also serve well in seasoned beverages, with just a little sprinkling over oats and cereals, and sure in baked goods too.
4. Paprika
Do not fret! It’s the common powdered pepper. Paprika is of the capsicum family of peppers. It includes a vast variety of peppers, such as red hot peppers, bell peppers, green peppers, etc.
Other health benefits include improved immunity, improved cholesterol levels, reduced blood sugars, reduced cancer risks, improved eye health, and also serving as a stimulant against depression.
More Ways to Use Paprika
Roses are red; paprika(s) are redder. All I’m saying is that it’s not that bad. I understand a lot of people don’t really like this particular spice, but really, it’s a healthy one. It doesn’t have to be consumed at high spike levels. Just a tint, at least once in a while, is highly recommended and would be much appreciated by your body.
It’s most enjoyed in soups, stews, and the garnishing of foods. It is also used in making marinades and spicy sauces.
5. Curry Powder
This is the most common spice that’s both healthy and handy in several ways. It’s made from a dashing mix of selected herbs and spices, including the well-known turmeric.
It also has the potency to restrain specific breast cancer cells, fight against stomach cancers and Alzheimer’s disease (a mental disorder), strengthen the bones, and aid digestion.
More Ways to Use Curry Powder
Curry is a very good mix for marinating meats and fish, especially before roasting. It also adds a great flavor to stews, vegetables, spinach, sauce, porridges, and coconut milk too.
6. Ginger
Ginger is a rhizome herb from the Zingiberaceae family. It is very common and known for its express medical assistance. One of the benefits of this common spice is its richness in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Also, it serves as a great aid in the treatment of various ailments.
These include bloating, nausea, chronic indigestions, weight reduction, morning sickness, coughing, cold congestion, post-surgery nausea, and workout-induced soreness.
Ginger is highly rich in Gingerol – a chemical that is known to treat inflammation and restrict nerve pathways that process pain. Traditionally, ginger is used as a remedy for general pain relievers, which include menstrual aches.
More Ways to Use Ginger
There’s a vastness attributed to the use of ginger, diced, dried, or extracts, surprisingly even in cosmetics. This particular herb could be used in whatever quantity and almost in every dish. This includes a wide variety of teas, sauces, beverages, baked goods, and dishes.
For stomach upsets, pains, and weight reduction, a good mix in warm water would work fine. For cough and cold congestion, a tint of lemon and honey could go a long way.
7. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is another very common spice with amazing health benefits. This spice is a dried aromatic bark that comes in stick rolls or powder. Similarly to Nutmeg, they are fragrance sticks used for the flavoring of dishes and baked goods.
One of the benefits of this common spice includes a range of digestive challenges and diabetic issues. They’re used in the management of blood sugar and cholesterol levels. They also reduce tummy fat (when added to food daily) and improve glucose cell metabolism.
It also has antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties that make it a handy treatment for the skin.
More Ways to Use Cinnamon
For skin treatment, cinnamon could be used for face masking when mixed with honey or yogurt. This healthy spice goes well with most dishes.
A little sprinkling of cinnamon over plain yogurt, oatmeal, beverages, and coffee (while brewing) gives it a unique tint of awesomeness.
Conclusion
There are a vast variety of great herbs and spices that are in use both for medical purposes and as amazing additions to dishes. These are only a few common spices with extreme health properties and unique flavorings for you.
I hope you have fun trying them out. Tell me in the comments section when you do.
Through time, I discovered that cooking is an art and an adventure. It requires skills, yes! But even more: passion, trust, and a message—what you want to communicate. As a child, playing around with ingredients and creating wonders was what I loved doing the most, and though they weren’t always that wonderful, thankfully, they were edible sometimes! I’m going to be sharing with you the tips I learned through the 10 ways you can become a better cook today and be the best version of yourself when it entails kitchen and creativity.
Let’s dive right in.
How to Become a Better Cook
1. Learn to Explore a Variety of Herbs and Spices
Cooking requires practice and diligent study. When it comes to herbs and spices, just a tint could go a long way in making your foods taste even better than they used to, but knowing the right spice to use for different cooking and the right amount is very important. A little glance through recipe books and a little study would also help.
2. Timing
This is one of the 10 ways you can become a better cook today. There are so many ingredients we use when cooking and different times to use them. For example, when cooking with acids, it’s important to add them at the end of your cooking, as if earlier, too much heat could reduce the effects of the acid. And this applies to diverse ingredients.
3. A Clean Environment Equals a Clear Head
The organization is very important while working to reduce stress and improve a very nice energy flow. It’s important to chop the onions before it’s time to use them, wash the vegetables, and defrost your proteins. More so, have a well-sharpened knife close and bring out every tool you’ll need before you need it to avoid confusion and maintain a perfect working environment.
4. Take It Calm and Slow
It’s never too bad to take a peek online or into a recipe book when you find yourself stuck at some point. Don’t be too pressured to finish fast; it’s also important that you finish well. So if it’s getting too stressful and you’re confused about the next step, it’s advisable to get a glass of water and just relax, or better yet, take a deep breath in and have a little peek, just to be sure.
5. Master Your Taste Buds
As a chef and even before I became one, each time I cook, I try to study the food with my taste buds, noting every ingredient and spice, feeling the flavor from within, and studying the effect every ingredient has on the food. With this, I know how to balance each flavor the next time I cook. And not just with your foods; each time you eat, study the food with your taste buds and try a little ‘guess game’.
This is surely one of the 10 ways you can become a better cook today.
6. Taste and Tone
As you cook, the flavor of your food changes and develops. It’s important to taste and balance.
7. Measurements and Quantity
While you want to try a little freestyle, don’t forget that measurements play a huge role in cooking. From your ingredients to your spices, make sure they’re all in the right proportion.
8. Reinvent Yourself
Even while practicing and becoming better daily, a little more study and questions from friends and mentors wouldn’t hurt. Add to your knowledge by increasing what you already know. Also, study more, improve where it needs to be, and do a little touch of research.
9. Practice
Practice is one of the 10 ways you can become a better cook today. No great chef was born in a day. It’s important to keep practicing and improving daily; growth is of the essence.
10. Be Creatively Adventurous
Don’t be scared to try something new. Different methods produce different results, remember!
Conclusion
I have mentioned above 10 ways you can become a better cook today. Try it out! I hope this helps you, and I look forward to your comments on tips you’ve tried, how they worked for you, and questions you have when it comes to cooking and baking. I’ll be here for you.
