Eat to beat the blues

✱ REMEMBER THE MIND-GUT LINK ‘Healthy digestion is linked to increased energy, healthier sleep patterns and lower levels of stress,’ says nutritionist Alison Cullen. ‘Eating more vegetables like artichokes, chicory, watercress, radishes and rocket will help to get your digestive juices flowing.’

✱ CUT BACK ON SUGAR ‘Sweet comfort foods are known to suppress stress hormones and lift your mood – but only temporarily. You will soon crash back down, and multiple studies have in fact linked diets high in sugar to an increased risk of depression,’ explains Alison.

✱ SUPPORT YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM ‘Try to eat more foods with a high content of B vitamins and magnesium,’ says Alison. ‘Both provide TLC for the adrenal glands which control the production of stress hormones. Healthy fats help, too, by improving your brain function. Pack your diet with foods like oats, spinach, avocados, walnuts, oranges, turmeric, peppers, celery and oily fish.