I hope you have had a good start to the New Year.

I’ve been a little MIA with blogging over the month of January (my bad).

Do you know what happened? First I got the flu (for a week) on NYE (whilst on my way over to Haines AK to celebrate with friends – fun!) .. not so fun for Jillybean, as I crashed pretty hard and skipped the celebrations.

Following that, some family stuff happened (we said goodbye to my 93 year old grandma which was very sad) and then the following weekend I got food poisoning or I had a bad food allergy reaction to shellfish? (It was delicious crab tho!). Not fun times, and I ended up going to the ER for IV fluids (heavenly IV fluids, they are amazing!). I hope to find out if I do have a shellfish allergy or what the heck happened. January kicked my butt!

Definitely not a sexy start to 2017, but I truly hope 2017 has done it’s thing and I can get rolling and continue to share some content and blogs with ya’ll (yes.. ya’ll). I’m feeling way better now and hopeful that the rest of 2017 will be sunshines and rainbows! (or at the very least no more crappy stuff).

Needless to say, feeling unwell can put a damper on one’s mood. In fact many things can affect our moods. From poor diet, nutrient deficiencies, lack of sunlight (winter blues), to hormones, stress or even poor digestion. There are many reasons that our moods may feel low. We often don’t realize that what we eat, has a direct affect on our body and mood. Once we realize this, we have the power to make changes and support our moods!

Today I want to share with you my 3 top foods that you can eat to help boost your moods!

You’re one healthy meal away from turning that frown upside down ?

3 Mood Boosting Foods:

Salmon:

Wild salmon is a powerful food to consume on a regular basis.  It contains not only high quality protein which is important for neurotransmitter formation (connected to our mood health) but it is also full of healthy omega 3 rich fats which are SUPER important for the functioning of our brain and have also shown to support a reduction in depression. Omega – 3 helps to reduce inflammation which in turn can support our brain health. Shoot for having fish a few times a week if possible or adding in a regular omega 3 supplement to your routine.

Avocados:

These fruity little guys are full of healthy mood boosting mono and polyunsaturated fats which again support our nervous system and brain health! They are rich in B vitamins which are supportive of the nervous system (B6 and folic acid). Avocados contain tryptophan which is converted into our feel good chemical serotonin.They are delicious when added to a salad, on top of toast or made into a tasty guacamole!

Below is my fave guacamole recipe for you!

Raw Nuts:

Don’t fear fat! Especially healthy fats like the ones found in raw nuts. Nuts like almonds, cashews and brazil nuts are a great snack and are mood supportive. They are rich in antioxidants, minerals as well as fats which support our health and moods.

Brazil nuts are extremely high in selenium which can improve our mood and prevent depression. How bout that? Next time you need a snack, go nuts!

BONUS – Move your body:

Get out for a short walk in nature each day or try to do some sort of body movement that you enjoy. Moving your body is one of the best mood-boosting strategies out there. Movement increases your oxygen intake, helps to detox and remove stagnation in the body (the lymphatic system needs movement to do it’s thang) and it also produces natural endorphins which are fantastic mood boosters.

What is the best kind of exercise?……. the kind you will do. BAM! So discover what YOU enjoy doing, and try to do it consistently. Your mood will thank you!

I hope you liked today’s blog!

Let me know, what foods do you eat on the regular to boost your mood? What lifestyle techniques do you find help to boost your mood?

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