By Trudy Scott
If you’ve heard Amma Jo sing you know how amazing, inspiring and wonderful her voice and songs are. And if you haven’t heard her sing then it’s time to change that! With titles like “No stopping me now” and “Get up and dance, I want to see you smile”, just listening to her is enough to reduce stress but today I’d like to share how to reduce stress and anxiety with one simple change to the way you eat!
But first, a little background…we actually met in November in Las Vegas at Ali Brown’s Shine event for women entrepreneurs – and Amma Jo wowed us all with her powerful voice, beautiful smile and incredible stage presence! So I was honored when she asked me to write an article around my big passion: food, mood and women’s health, and offered me the opportunity to highlight my forthcoming book: “The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings” (to be published in June 2011).
In summary…what you eat (real whole food and yes, animal protein), when you eat (controlling blood sugar), what you don’t put in your mouth (sugar, coffee and foods you’re sensitive to like wheat), your digestion, your hormones and neurotransmitters – and more – can affect how anxious and overwhelmed you feel. And the magical thing is that when you address the root cause of your anxiety with food and nutrients it really does make you feel calm and stress-free and happier. It also results in zero sugar cravings and you’ll even sleep better! And who doesn’t want all of that?
In this article I’ll be addressing one aspect that you can easily implement. It’s so simple and so important that for my anxious clients it’s not even negotiable! They do it and they love how they feel right away. It’s actually something that all my clients benefit from in a huge way, whether or not they have anxiety. So here goes…read on, get motivated and get going on this one simple change tomorrow! Drum roll….and here it is …eat a quality breakfast every single day! This addresses some of when you eat as well as what you eat.
First of all, if you don’t eat breakfast, start now and don’t ever skip it! Secondly, eating a breakfast that contains a good source of protein, some good fats and carbohydrates will keep your blood sugar steady all day long and set you up for the rest of the day. It will reduce stress and anxiety, provide you with tons of energy, improve your focus and provide brain power too. Stable blood sugar is crucial for good mood and preventing sugar cravings too!
Some great breakfast examples are a veggie omelet and some fruit; poached eggs on wholegrain toast (if you can tolerate wheat) served with spinach and fresh grapefruit; beef or chicken sausages or fish with veggies or even “dinner-for-breakfast”.
A great easy and delicious option is a “Brain-Power-Good-Mood Smoothie” for breakfast. Use ½ cup organic blueberries or raspberries, 1 banana (your carbs), ¼ cup full fat coconut milk (your fats) and water to make up a cup and a scoop of at least 20g whey protein or rice powder (your protein). Blend and enjoy! Optional additions are almond butter, plain yogurt (if you are ok with dairy), greens or ground flax seed. When I travel I take smoothie ingredients and a mini blender and I’m set!
So skip the processed “whites” like bagels, muffins and donuts, and even boxed cereals. And if you are a just-coffee-in-the-morning person, try this healthy breakfast with protein (having protein is the key) and please let me know how much better your day goes!
Make this one really simple change to the way you eat and you’ll reduce stress and anxiety and feel like this: there is “No stopping me now”!
If this was useful to you, and you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read, I welcome you to claim the complimentary Special Reports “5 Simple Steps to Reduce Anxiety Now” and “9 Great Questions Women Ask About Food, Mood and their Health” from www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com. You’ll automatically be signed up for my awesome ezine “Food, Mood and Gal Stuff” and stay up to date on healthy tips, book information, new research and workshops.
Trudy Scott (CN), Certified Nutritionist is the founder of www.everywomanover29.com, a thriving nutrition practice with a focus on food, mood and women’s health. Trudy educates women about the amazing healing powers of food and nutrients and helps them find natural solutions for anxiety and other mood problems. Trudy’s goal for all her clients (and all women): ”You can be your healthiest, look your best and feel on-top-of-the-world emotionally!” - See more at: http://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/#sthash.8DqWdxsV.dpufLabels: health and wellness, living, wellness
