Healthy Food Choices for Your
Body Mind & Spirit
The Connection in How You Feel and What You Eat
At Fit Inside & Out, we talk a lot about the connection between body mind & spirit. This article discusses how foods fit into that realm. Certain foods are known to help with various health concerns and other problems. For instance, sun flowers seeds help your body produce dopamine, which tends to make you feel good – it’s a great way to beat stress. Try having a few for a snack. Spinach also works to improve your body’s defense against stress. Another stress buster is blueberries. These healthy food choices for your body work to help your mind and spirit.
Foods that can stabilize or give you energy include almonds or almond butter, eggs, and coffee. If insomnia is a problem you might want to try having a 6 to 8 ounce serving of skim milk or low-fat yogurt about 2 hours before bedtime. Bananas can help regulate your internal clock. Try a small banana each day. It might work for you. Some studies have shown that potatoes have a sedative effect. Try eating ½ a potato about 4 hours before bedtime.
Many of us worry about our memories. There are foods that can help with that too. Salmon can lower the risk of dementia. Olive oil may lower your risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
When you are dealing with an upset stomach you might want to try soothing it with quinoa. Peppermint tea can be used to calm and relax intestinal muscles, which can alleviate gas bubbles and bloating.
You can pump up your immune system with cantaloupe, which gives you more than 100% of the daily recommendation for vitamin C. Broccoli is packed with antioxidants, which fight free radicals that can cause infection and disease. Oysters and crab are loaded with zinc, which is an immune boosting mineral – it will help the body ward off infection.
Foods can help you combat headaches tool Kale is rich in magnesium, and it may help you have fewer migraines through its ability to fight inflammation. Black beans are high in protein and fiber, and magnesium. Since headaches have been linked to unstable blood sugar levels, black beans may prove helpful. Tuna and halibut have healthy omega-3s, which can help to stop the inflammation that can cause migraines.
It’s even possible to burn fat faster with certain foods. For instance, Chile peppers contain capsaicin, which is a compound that may kick-start your metabolism. Soy – Soy milk and tofu have been found to help lower your body fat percentage. It seems the products help to balance the hormones that control appetite. Green tea is known to speed up your metabolism.
So food does much more than simply feed you and end your hunger. Because the body mind & spirit are all related, when you eat, your food has an impact on all parts of your being.
