Okra
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Nutritional Psychiatry focuses not only on how specific foods help improve our mood and reduce stress, but also how we can use food to impact our cognitive ability and memory as we age.
Simple adjustments can slowly but steadily become habits you can incorporate for the rest of your life in order to create lasting mental fitness. Each week, I’ll share recommendations here using foods you can add to your diet to support your mental health.
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MOOD FOOD of the Week: Okra
Mood: Anxiety
Food: Okra
Research has shown that Okra can help calm the mind because…
It is packed with both Vitamin C and Vitamin A, two vitamins with antioxidant effects that reduce the damaging effects of oxidative stress in the brain that enhance symptoms of anxiety
Okra is rich in magnesium, a nutrient that works to calm the central nervous system whose deficiency has been linked to an elevated stress response
It is also an excellent source of fiber which helps to feed the good bugs in the gut for a more balanced microbiome and reduced neuroinflammation
How to add this MOOD FOOD to your diet:
Okra can be enjoyed similar to many other veggies - both raw or cooked! When eaten raw, okra has a taste and crunch similar to that of green beans and can be used to dip into your favorite homemade hummus or to a colorful salad. It is delicious steamed or roasted in avocado oil with your favorite seasonings or added to veggies soups and stews! If you have an airfryer, they also make a nutritious alternative to french fries! This week as part of my premium subscription plan, I am sharing my recipe for Crispy MediterrAsian Okra Fries!
How to buy Okra:
Okra is a vegetable that is actually considered a fruit! It is available in most places where you purchase produce or your groceries. It is available fresh, frozen and even pickled! For the frozen or pickled varieties, I recommend checking the labels to ensure that okra is the only ingredient or that there are no added sugars or processed seed oils that can be detrimental to mental fitness.
Wishing you a joyful & calm week,
Dr. Uma Naidoo, MD
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NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rich Roll Podcast: I am thrilled to have recently been a guest on The Rich Roll Podcast discussing the gut-brain connection, nutrition and brain health! Listen here!
Fortune Well: Herbs and spices are nutrient powerhouses that can have a profound effect on brain health. Learn more about those that I recommend here.
The Everygirl Podcast: I recently joined my friend on The Everygirl Podcast to share my nutritional strategies for improving mood and calming stress. Listen here!
Business Insider: Wondering which foods I always pick up when grocery shopping? Check out this article to find out!
This Week’s Recipe: Crispy MediterrAsian Okra Fries
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