Boost your mood with these foods!

Welcome to diet and fitness podcast, a free audio podcast sponsored by Diet.com. This is your fit fun and fabulous host, Lady Diet, ready to give you the skinny on the latest diet, fitness health tips and news.

Whether you’re feeling blue or you’re perky as ever, your dieting habits can have a huge impact on your mood! Think about it. Who can really feel bad after biting into a piece of delicious, satisfying dark chocolate? In all seriousness, eating the right foods can help you feel better if you’re irritable and worn-out! Here are five diet tips sure to cheer you up!

First of all, eat and eat often. Those six-mini-meal-a-day diets you always hear about not only keep your metabolism moving to burn calories but also give your body constant energy so you stay alert throughout the day. Stick with breakfast, lunch and dinner, but try a healthy mid morning snack and afternoon snack like apple slices or carrot sticks when you are feeling a little sleepy for a quick pick-me-up! Staying energized will improve your efficiency and keep your stomach and mind satisfied.

Keep consuming vitamin D and those omega-3s! Omega-3 fatty acids (the “good” fat, as they say) are excellent ways to boost your mood and make you feel happy! Why, you ask? They work to improve serotonin levels in your brain which regulate your mood. Try grilled salmon or avocados for excellent, tasty sources of omega-3s.

Stick to whole grains and good carbs rather than refined carbs. Sure, pasta and sugary sodas and juices will give you an instant dose of energy, but our bodies tend to burn it quickly and hit a low shortly after. Whole grains act as a sort of time-release of good nutrients, so the energy you get from them lasts much longer than refined carb foods.

Get plenty of soluble fiber to slow down your body’s absorption of sugar! Include in your diet oats, barley, fruits like apples, pears, or strawberries, and veggies such as sweet potatoes or peas to get your fill of fiber to stabilize your mood!

Try to avoid or reduce your intake of caffeine, alcohol, and sugary food and drink. Ever get a sugar rush after eating a bunch of sweets? Afterward you experience a low, or a drop in your mood and energy. This can potentially lead to tiredness, irritability, and stress. Instead, replace some of your drinks during the day with a cold glass of water or all natural fruit juice. Your mind and body will feel refreshed!

Take these tips into consideration the next time you’re feeling a little cranky or anxious! Understanding the effect your diet has not only physically, but also mentally will help you get in control and improve your quality of life. Now isn’t that something to smile about?

Before I conclude today’s podcast, I just wanted to let you know about my friend, Diet Diva, and her really fun and entertaining Blog on celebrities and fitness! Diet Diva sets celebs straight with her great commentary on dieting in the media. This week, she lets readers in on her Janet Jackson Weight Loss Conspiracy Theory. Check out Diet Diva’s Celebrity Blog at the Blogs section on Diet.com!

If you have any comments or suggestions about today’s podcast or any fun health diet or fitness tips please feel free to email me at LadyDietPodcast at dietdotcom

This is lady diet signing off…