Hey MoodFoodie,
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Are you looking for ways to naturally boost your mood and emotional wellbeing? Are you interested in making healthy choices now that will benefit your health in the future?
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.
I love bringing you the latest in Nutritional Psychiatry each week to boost your overall well-being. My new book Calm Your Mind with Food is a revolutionary full-body approach to relieving anxiety, including anti-anxiety recipes and meal plan guidelines.
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MOOD FOOD of the Week: Scallops
Mood: Anxiety
Food: Scallops
Research has shown that scallops can help calm the mind because…
They are especially rich in vitamin B12, a nutrient that is crucial for a healthy nervous system and stress response
Scallops are also especially high in zinc, a nutrient that regulates levels of the neurotransmitters GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and serotonin for reduced risk of anxiety
They are also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which protect the brain against the damaging effects on neuroinflammation that can lead to anxious thoughts
How to add this MOOD FOOD to your diet:
Adding scallops to the diet is an easy way to reap the many mental health benefits of seafood. Scallops can be enjoyed broiled or sauteed with a little bit of avocado oil and your favorite spices. They are delicious served with colorful roasted veggies like peppers or asparagus. Scallops are also a great addition to seafood soups and stews. It is popular to enjoy raw scallops, often served as a scallop crudo, but it is very important to be aware of where these scallops are being sourced from.
This week, as part of my premium subscription, I am sharing my recipe for Southern French Style Scallops!
How to buy scallops:
Unless you live near a location that farms scallops locally, most come frozen, and some are thawed for display in the seafood section of supermarkets or at seafood stores. The two common types of scallops available are bay scallops and sea scallops. Bay scallops are much smaller than sea scallops but both contain similar nutrient profiles so you can choose between them based on preference or the meal you are preparing. When enjoying scallops in restaurants, it is common to see fried scallops, which can be detrimental to mental fitness, so look for healthier prepared varieties like steamed, baked, or broiled.
Wishing you a joyful & calm week,
Dr. Uma Naidoo, MD
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In The News
CNBC: It’s well known that ultra-processed foods are bad for health. In this article I share the #1 ultra-processed food that I avoid and offer tips on what to enjoy instead!
WCVB: Pack your children a brain nourishing lunch box! Curious as to which foods improve children’s mood? Check it out here!
Harvard Gazette: There are many foods out there that we know are bad for us, but our bodies still crave them! In this article I discuss why we crave junk food and how to cultivate healthier habits.
MindBodyGreen: Not only can the foods we eat trigger anxiety, but the beverages we choose can as well! I recently commented on soda and diet soda in this article.
This Week’s Recipe: Southern French Style Scallops
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