Enter the spring season with a healthy diet
For many of us the sights, sounds and smells of spring are enough to make us feel energized. For others it may be difficult to shake off the routine of watching lots of television and all the sedentary habits we pursued when it was cold and miserable outside.
Switching to a healthy diet can actually help to boost your energy levels and there are some foods that do that better than others. It does not mean spending lots of money either.
Bananas have to be one of the least expensive fruits and they’re available year round. They can boost your serotonin levels, which are mood enhancing. Spinach will do the same not to mention all the other benefits.
An avocado eaten directly from the oval shaped bowl/skin or sliced on top of a toasted slice of grain-loadedbread is delicious with a sprinkling of sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Avocados can actually decrease the amino acids that could be contributing to depression and feelings of anxiety. Avocados also provide folic acid and Omega-3 which are known to improve eyesight and the health of your heart. You will enjoy the same benefits from brown rice, with a little wild rice thrown in, makes for a wonderfully nutty flavour and if you add a piece of grilled salmon you are giving yourself some essential fatty acids that can boost dopamine levels. If you are still struggling to reduce your consumption of sugar try limiting yourself to a small amount of a really good quality of dark chocolate. A bowl of strawberries drizzled with a small amount of chocolate can be a feast for the eyes and make you feel as though you are giving yourself a wonderfully indulgent treat. Chocolate by the way has some health benefits too including reducing hormones related to stress. A sliced banana with a little grated chocolate makes for another wonderful treat. There are some studies that suggest those who consume dark chocolate have less stress hormones within a couple hours. I would not be surprised if there was a placebo effect. Who does not feel good after having chocolate? Don’t eat the whole bar though. A square or two is all you need to enjoy the experience and make sure it is good quality dark chocolate.
I can’t stress enough the importance of home cooking. There are of course the benefits of you knowing what has gone into what you eat but the sheer pleasure and joy of preparing something yourself is very important. You don’t have to do anything fancy. Start with sliced avocado and spinach leaves for a meal. Rice is so simple to prepare with a small piece of fish or chicken. You don’t need any special equipment to prepare rice a regular pot/saucepan.
We are entering the time of year when fruit and vegetables in season will be in abundance and hopefully will cost a whole lot less than what we paid throughout winter.
It is the perfect time to make a switch in your diet, make fruit and vegetables a priority. Here's To Your Health.
To Your Health is a weekly column by Gillian Slade, health reporter for the News, bringing you news on health issues and research from around the world. You can reach her by email on call 403-528-8635.