This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Good Mood Food
conscious eater who is sure they’ll live
longer for their good habits and whose
advice for family and friends about
by Clare Marder, LMFT, DHH, CHT healthier ways of eating can be a drag
when you just want to enjoy a guilt-free
meal. Hmm, my sons have been calling
on the wheel, and the other reaching less frequently and declining invitations
for the burger, trying to get a quick to dinner. I wonder...
bite while your phone buddy does the Well, you get the picture of how
talking, it’s a wonder we ever got along we prioritize the types of foods we con-
without our meals on wheels. sume. So, here’s another consideration.
Gourmet foods have a taste advan- We know foods affect our physical
tage appreciated by gourmands who health and appearance. And, maybe
value special preparation and attention you’ve noticed that the tryptophan in
given to the process and personal treat- the Thanksgiving turkey makes you
ment. I’ve been on dates with this type sleepy. Or that the habitual afternoon
when the meal resembled a Bacchana- Starbucks leaves you feeling agitated,
lian feast. Lots of fun until the end of compounded by lack of sleep which
the meal when you just want to go to means a rough day at work the next
sleep. day, unless you’re drinking decaf or
Comfort foods are so-called for having the caffeine-rich variety before
the emotional comfort associated with 2 p.m. But, daily diet actually regulates
consuming them, or perhaps a memory our behavior more than we might real-
of the atmosphere during a previous ize.
consumption. Like eating pumpkin pie Numerous studies have confirmed
to remind you of the Thanksgiving get- that imbalanced eating habits can be a
together. Or the lonely Saturday night leading cause of depression or height-
with your no-bowl-needed ice-cream, ened anxiety to the degree that the
your spoon, your box of Kleenex and overall quality of life is compromised.
You’ve Got Mail from Netflix. You The normal cycles of neurotransmit-
F
ood is personal. Whether we’re know, that moment when you’ve got ter activity can be easily interrupted,
aware of it or not, we have an emo- your spoonful in one hand and your creating imbalances of serotonin and
tional relationship with food regarding tissue in the other when Meg Ryan, dopamine needed for optimal mood
taste, preparation, comfort, nutrition, waiting on the bridge in Central Park, stabilization. Imbalances cause a stress
and habit, not all of equal concern. hears, “Brinkley!” and with anticipation situation in the brain and nervous
But, sometimes we’re so attached to our hopes it’s Tom Hanks. He dries her tears system resulting in high production of
food habits that we don’t take notice of and says, “Don’t cry ShopGirl.” And she stress chemicals, cortisol and adrena-
how they affect our moods. replies, “I wanted it to be you. I wanted line. These chemicals are an important
Fast foods are chosen for conve- it so badly.” And Brinkley tugs at Tom crisis response, but quite harmful when
nience of multi-tasking while you eat. Hanks’ jacket while Tom and Meg em- being overproduced or in a steady
With your cell phone balanced be- brace and the camera pans out. “drip” state. The result is poor mental
tween your shoulder and ear, one hand And then there’s the nutrition- focus, anxiety, and depression. And,
because research confirms that positive
emotions are linked to better health and
negative emotions are a predictor of
worsening health, the cycle of general
health decline continues.
A depressed person is generally
deficient of protein, while an anxious
person likely needs more complex
carbohydrates, like whole grains, that
metabolize slower than refined carbs
or sugars, which create energy spikes
that last for a short period followed by
an energy nosedive. Keep in mind that
depression and anxiety are two sides of
the same coin in that the brain’s
28 Broward County
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com