Thursday- Physical DeClutter

The Happiness Diet

Boosting your mood has never been tastier

By Tyler Graham & Drew Ramsay, MD

Photo credit: Kana Okada

What if you discovered that the best place to begin your personal pursuit of happiness is at the end of your fork? Well, prepare to polish your silverware. Emerging research from the fields of neuroscience and nutrition shows that by changing what you eat, you can stabilize your mood, improve your focus, andboost your brain health, all while trimming your tummy.

We call this way of eating the Happiness Diet. And fear not: It's not all carrot sticks and raw broccoli. It includes foods that are rich in nutrients like vitamins A, B12, D, and E, and folate, iodine, magnesium, calcium, iron, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids—your Essential Elements of Happiness.

Food is directly linked to three areas of brain function that create your "happiness ability." The first is your capacity to focus, think, plan, and remember (we call them "foods for thought"). The second is emotional regulation ("foods for good mood"). And third are foods that give you the ability to power through a deadline and control anxiety ("foods for energy").

This was excerpted from The Happiness Diet (Rodale, 2011). Order your copy today!

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Happiness Rules

If you want to tap into the mental well-being that comes from the Happiness Diet, follow these basic guidelines.

RULE 1: Reduce the amount of processed food you eat.

Much of it is loaded with sugar, and too much of the sweet stuff actually contributes to the shrinkage of key brain areas involved in mood regulation.

RULE 2: Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Plant foods contain the minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients that we call the Essential Elements of Happiness--substances your brain needs for optimal functioning.

RULE 3: Opt for grass-fed meat, whenever possible.

Compared with typical grain-fed meat, grass-fed has more omega-3 fatty acids, an Essential Element of Happiness that promotes formation of new brain connections.

RULE 4: Strive for variety.

The greater the range of whole foods you consume, the broader the range of brain-boosting nutrients your diet will certainly contain—and the sharper, merrier, and more energized your mind will be.

Read more: http://www.prevention.com