TACKLE YOUR MOOD AS WELL AS YOUR GROWING WAISTLINE

This is not a new idea, those of us involved in nutrition have been well aware of this for years, but if it helps get the facts out there, then its good. The trouble is a diet that is high in refined sugars causes havoc with our blood sugar levels and its this that instigates type 2 Diabetes later in life. When you eat a snack or meal high in refined sugars the amount of sugar gets into the blood stream after being converted into glucose via the digestive system. To enable the glucose to reach the cells and give the body's cells energy, the pancreas has to produce Insulin, Insulin is the catalyst, the key to allow sugar entry into the cells. Now the body is constantly trying to achieve homoeostasis, a balance a lot of sugar means a lot of insulin needs to be produced by the pancreas and if we eat a lot of refined sugars over a period of years this has a detrimental effect on the Pancreas. In time you will gain weight too and for the poor Pancreas this means more work. The other effect with refined sugars is peaking in the blood stream, there is a surge of Insulin to enable the sugar to enter the cells, this Insulin causes a trough  and whats often apparent is a feeling of tiredness and sometimes shaking. On the other hand eating complex carbohydrates and unrefined sugars, they are released much slower into the blood stream, so there is not this sudden rush of Insulin and no tiredness and weakness. This peaking and troughing in the blood stream leads to mood swings and a craving for sugary foods and makes it difficult to stick to a weight loss plan. 

We need adequate vitamins especially the B complex group for nerve function and Thiamine which is one of this group for energy release. Vitamin B is also water soluble so has to be eaten daily as it cannot be stored by the body and easily destroyed by over cooking and processing. Our bodies also use more Vitamin B in times of stress. The Brain especially needs adequate levels of Omega 3 Fish oils, so a good balanced diet is essential in order for it to function correctly, Processed foods lack adequate nutrition, so if you find yourself getting that tired lagging feeling around late afternoon your first thought should be to have a good look at your diet.

Anybody who has tried a quick fix weight reduction diet will know how grumpy it can make themselves feel and how often its driven them to cravings for sweet sugary foods and chocolate. By taking care to balance your diet by eating good fats, such as fish oils and olive oil, whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables, you will lose the weight and you will achieve your goal rather than give in to those sugar cravings

The Happiness Diet: How a new weight-loss plan promises to tackle your mood as well as your waistline

We all know that a diet high in fat, sugar and processed food is bad for our waistlines.
But according to a new book, it is also making us depressed.
Authors of The Happiness Diet believe that what we eat can affect mood as much as it does weight.

Brain food: Authors of The Happiness Diet believe that what we eat can affect our mood as much as it does our weight

Drew Ramsey, a clinical psychiatrist at Columbia University, and health writer Tyler Graham say that eating the right food is 'the foundation of good mental health'.

They point out that rates of both obesity and depression have doubled in the last decade, and blame the rise on the Standard American Diet, or the SAD Diet.

'Your brain is made of food, and the right foods are the foundation of good mental health'

A weight-loss plan that simply cuts fat and calories is a recipe for failure, they say, and without natural mood-boosters such as magnesium, vitamin B12 and conjugated linoleic acid, we are less likely to feel happy and therefore successful.
Instead, a diet rich in 'good' fats, like olive oil, whole grains, vegetables and quality meat can benefit both out minds and our waistlines because, by feeling more satisfied, one will lose weight effortlessly.
Dr Ramsey told Today.com: 'Focusing on getting skinny by eating a low-fat, low-calorie diet, fails for most people.

The Happiness Diet: You can't feel your best if you starve the brain, say Tyler Graham and Drew Ramsey

'Your brain is made of food, and the right foods are the foundation of good mental health. You can't feel your best if you starve the brain.'
They also counter the argument that the food they recommend is too expensive for those on a budget.
'The biggest myth out there is that eating right is expensive,' Dr Ramsey said, explaining that ordering a weekly seasonal box of produce from community-supported agriculture programmes can actually cut your weekly grocery spend.
But there's nothing wrong in investing in your health if you do need to spend more, Mr Graham added.
A century ago, people spent far more on food than they do now, because they had different priorities.
'Your brain is made out of food,' he said, echoing his co-author. 'What's more important, having 200 cable channels or feeding your brain the nutrients it needs?'

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