Foods to Assist with Depression and Anxiety

Lifestyle and diet changes are required to overcome anxiety and depression without going down the path of medications that don’t provide a cure. There are some super foods that will help you to cure anxiety and depression, whereas there are also some foods that will contribute to depression and triggers anxiety. All you have to do is to make right choices that can cut down on the amount of anxiety you experience drastically and also helps in improving your mood. Here is the list of some food to overcome depression and anxiety.

Foods to Assist with Depression

Fresh orange

Oranges

Oranges have complex and natural sugars, which are best for your body. Oranges also contain flavonoids and multivitamins that are necessary antioxidants to hinder the symptoms of mild depression.

 

 

 

Turmeric and turmeric powder

Turmeric

Turmeric is popular for its anti-inflammatory properties. It consists of an active ingredient, Curcumin that has anti-depressant and therapeutic properties.

 

 

assortment of milk products

Dairy

People, who are conscious about their weight normally avoids dairy products, however dairy products are a rich in protein, calcium and vitamin D, which are great for the body. Dairy products are also a big source of specific peptides and nutrients which help in creating relaxation and a sense of well-being, ultimately fighting depression.

 

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Green Tea

Green tea is famous for its positive effects on metabolism, slow signs of aging, helping with weight loss and most importantly, it is popular for its wonderful antioxidant properties that are very good for your body. This drink also has anti-depressant properties, due to the presence of amino acid, known as theanine. This amino acid occurs naturally in tea leaves and helps in providing relaxation from depression.

 

Foods to Assist with Anxiety

The amazon acai fruit.

Acai Berries

Acai berry is the new super food rich in phytonutrients helps to reduce anxiety.

 

 

 

 

Almond nuts isolated

Almonds

Almonds contain zinc, which is a key nutrient to maintain a balanced mood. Almonds also have healthy fats and iron. Increased iron levels control brain fatigue, whereas healthy fats are a significant part of a balanced diet. Both of this can contribute to anxiety and a lack of energy.

 

 

Dark chocolate bars stack with crumbs isolated on a white

Chocolate

Chocolate, specifically pure dark chocolate with low milk and sugar is also a great food for those living with stress and anxiety. Chocolate helps in reducing cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that causes the symptoms of anxiety. There are also some other compounds in dark chocolate that helps enhance your mood.

 

 

Ripe wheat and in a linen bag with a wooden spatula

Whole Grain Foods

Studies have shown that whole grains have several advantages for those with anxiety, such as magnesium deficiency can cause anxiety and whole grains are rich in magnesium. Whole grain works as a calming neurotransmitter as it contains tryptophan. Whole grains help to create healthy energy and reduce hunger – both significant to control for anxiety.

 

Much Love

Living Your Power Now

 

What are Vitamins and Minerals and what purpose do they serve?

All the complex chemical reactions of the body take place at the cellular level. For example, the building of new blood cells, sending of nerve signals or repairing of wounds. Moreover, the new cells replace old cells when they die, to ensure the proper and healthy functioning. However, everything that happens in the human body completely relies on nutrients. Among the 6 essential nutrients, Minerals and Vitamins are the two most important ones.

Difference between Vitamins and Minerals

Minerals are inorganic compound nutrients can be metabolized to release energy in the body. Vitamins are organic nutrients that are destructible. However, minerals cannot create energy and are indestructible, whereas organic nutrients can be destroyed or altered.

What is the Link between Vitamins and Mineral?

Vitamins and Minerals are often required to work together. For instance, Vitamin C and calcium works together in the process of depositing calcium in teeth, Vitamin D helps in raising the amount of phosphorous and calcium in the blood to ensure the presence of minerals to harden bones.

Essential Vitamins and Their Functions

Here is the list of some essential vitamins and minerals and their benefits for the body.

  • Vitamin A

This vitamin is good for general growth and development, such as skin, healthy teeth and healthy eyes. The natural sources include sweet potatoes and carrots.

  • B Vitamins

These vitamins are good for iron absorption, energy production and immune function. Some of the natural sources include molasses, whole grains, bananas, potatoes, lentils, beans, chili peppers and yeast.

  • Vitamin C

This vitamin is good for strengthening blood vessels, iron absorption, anti-oxidant function and giving skin its elasticity. The major source of Vitamin C is citrus fruits.

  • Vitamin D

Vitamin D is best for healthy and strong bone. Some major sources include sunlight, fish, eggs and mushrooms.

  • Vitamin E

Vitamin E is good for protection from free radicals and blood circulation. The major source of Vitamin E is dry fruits.

  • Vitamin K

Vitamin K is best for Blood coagulation. This Vitamin is generally found in leafy green vegetables.

Minerals and Their Functions

  • Folic Acid

This mineral is good for preventing birth defects in pregnancy and cell renewal. Some of the sources of folic acid include corn, nuts, lentils, peas and beans.

  • Calcium

Calcium is good for strong bones and teeth. The best source of Calcium is found in dark greens and dairy products

  • Iron

Iron is good for maintaining healthy blood and building muscles naturally. Iron can be found in spinach, lentils and beans.

 

Different Functions of Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins do several jobs, as they are energy nutrients, such as acting as antioxidants and breaking down other nutrients. In contrast, minerals work mainly on the skeleton; however, they can also interact with water for regulating the pH balance in the body, transmission of nerve impulses and for the contraction of muscles. Vitamins are essential for the creation of red blood cells and Minerals are necessary to carry oxygen for oxygen through the blood.

Living Your Power Now 

 

5 things to add to your daily diet to enhance your mind and body

Good habits and proper cleansing to naturally detoxify the body and mind can really help you in achieving amazing health benefits. The connection between the mind and the body is a very real one. The way your body feels plays a vital role in how your brain works and whether you experience a condition of well-being or not.

Keeping your mind and body free of nasty things, toxins and free radicals is essential to maintain a healthy life. There is a major effect of clean eating, as detox foods are the road to purification providing multiple long-lasting benefits throughout the body and mind. Below is a list of the best foods that have positive effects to your mind and body.

artichokes

Artichokes

Artichokes help in the proper functioning of the liver, which turn your body to cleanse itself of the toxins. It boosts the production of bile in the liver and bile helps in breaking down foods. The proper breaking of foods helps your body to effectively use the nutrients inside them.

 

 

 

Asparagus on the white background

Asparagus

It is not only a tasty veggie, but asparagus also ranks high when it comes to detoxifying of your body. Asparagus is a general anti-inflammatory food, helping your heart stay healthy and protects you from getting cancer.

 

 

 

 

Beet roots.

 

Beetroot

It is good to include beetroot in your daily diet as this food is a great cleaning agent for your body. Beets are known as a super food because of the amazing benefits that it provides to the human body. This food helps in ensuring proper cleansing of toxins inside the body. Moreover, Beets help with free-radicals and convert them to an anti-cancer aid.

 

 

 

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Green Tea

Green tea is a great addition to your diet because of its high antioxidant value. The major function of antioxidants is to kill free radicals before they damage your body. It is a perfect beverage to drink on a regular basis for getting into a healthy state of body and mind.

 

 

 

Three lemons with leaves

Lemons

Lemon juice flushes toxins from your body and popular for its detoxifying effect. Lemons help with your digestion as well.

However, always keep in mind that for proper cleansing of your mind and body, it is also important to eliminate some foods from your regular diet that are not good for your health. These include carbonated beverages, candies, sweets, chocolates and alcohol. Moreover, overeating is also injurious to your health as it overloads your digestive system and causes the system to move slowly, ultimately leading to an accumulation of toxins.

 

Living Your Power Now

Michael Sorgioavnni

How to feel happiness or any other desirable state immediately!

The powers of our thoughts are crucial to the results we get in our life.

People strive their whole life to find happiness, many searching in the wrong places. A common issue is people trying to ‘buy’ happiness, when external possessions will never give the happiness one desires (not to say that having money wouldn’t make the journey easier)

As many of you searching for happiness have read over and over, happiness may only be found from within. We know this to be true, but what does that really mean?

From an NLP (neuro linguistic programming) perspective, happiness in merely a ‘conscious state’. We experience so many conscious states on a daily basis, one’s which we identify as emotions; sadness, anger, fear, guilt, grief, shame…. These emotions must become a conscious state for us to determine its existence and recognize what we are feeling. Happiness is also an emotion, a state of mind, a feeling.

Considering that happiness is driven from positive emotions, let’s think about how our experiences effect these emotional responses and these effect our state of mind. If we could control our responses, our views and maintain a positive approach, we change our state of mind and in effect our reality. Right?

Sounds easy doesn’t it?

Where do we start? Firstly let’s explore how we can achieve a desired state

As I mentioned earlier our thoughts are crucial to the results we get in our life. So how do we control our thoughts? In NLP, through a process called ‘Anchoring’.

What is anchoring? Any time a person is in an associated, intense state, if at the peak of that experience, a specific stimulus is applied, it creates a link neurologically.

For example, have you ever found yourself with an old friend, reminiscing on a fond memory, you find yourself laughing uncontrollably, the feeling of happiness overcomes you, it is as this point if you stopped in that moment as I have in the past and anchored that state, you would be able to access that ‘state’ at any point. Does this work? Yes it does, it has worked for me and many others…
As with everything, the more you practise this technique, the more successful you will become at this, creating longer lasting results.

How do you anchor? In the example given above, something as simple as catching yourself in that moment and creating a stimulus by touching your knuckle for 5-15 seconds could create an anchor for you to access later.

Anchoring can assist you in gaining access to past states and linking the past state to the present and future.

By learning how to anchor yourself with positive states, you can virtually tap into any resourceful state that you want and feel confidence, relax, motivated, love and happy immediately.

The process

1. Decide on a state you want to anchor, whether it be happy, calm or relaxed.
2. Choose an anchor (for simplicity reasons choose a knuckle to touch) that you wish to trigger the resourceful state.
3. Recall a past vivid experience and remember the more intense the experience is the better the results will be.
4. Activate the anchor when the experience is vivid, at its peak and you’re in the desired state. (apply stimulus to a knuckle, for best results hols the point for 5-15 seconds at the peak of the state)
5. Release the anchors when the experience begins to fade. Note: If you keep applying the anchor when the experience is fading, then you will anchor a drop in calmness and relaxation.
6. Break your state, think of something else… open your eyes… distract yourself.
7. Repeat the steps several times, each time making the memory more vivid. (this is not actually required if the anchor is established at the high point of the experience, however it will strengthen the anchor by doing so consistently for several experiences.
8. Evoke the state, press on the anchor and check if the required state occurs.
9. Future pace the situation where you want to experience the desired state. Fire the anchor to check that it creates a sufficiently resourced state
10. Check the anchor the next day to ensure it is a permanent anchor.

Tips

The Five Keys to Anchoring are:
• The Intensity of the experience
• The Timing of the Anchor
• The Uniqueness of the Anchor
• The Replication of the Stimulus
• The Number of Times

Note:
• It is important that the anchors are fired the same way when linking them to the resourceful experience.
• If when you are firing the anchor and experience anxiety, stop applying the anchor, you do not want to anchor the negative state.
• Look out for the moments in your everyday life where you experience an uplifting state and remember to anchor them.

Never forget, your thoughts are crucial to the results you get in your life, you can action what you desire to feel. It will only happen when you come to the realisation that you deserve better in your life than what you’re getting and set new standards on how you’re going to feel.

There is an abundance of techniques, strategies and information to change the way you think and feel in life, anchoring is just one.

Why not try anchoring?

Stay posted for more articles.

Living Your Power Now

Michael Sorgiovanni