EAT WELL, FEEL BETTER
Did you know good food is good for your mood? It’s not just your body you’re feeding – your mind is affected by what you eat, too. Also blotchy dull lifeless skin, bloated chin, all problems associated with poor diet and not enough h20.
There is increasing evidence of a link between what we eat and how we feel. This is called the ‘food – mood’ connection. How we feel influences what we choose to eat or drink – and a healthy diet can protect our mental health.
HOW DOES FOOD AFFECT MY MOOD?
BLOOD SUGAR
Glucose from the carbohydrate-containing foods we eat provides the brain’s main source of fuel. Without this fuel, we can’t think clearly.
Some carbs are better than others. Sugar, white pasta and biscuits will only give you a short burst of energy. You’ll feel tired and grumpy when the sugar high wears off. “Complex carbohydrates”, such as whole grains, beans and vegetables, are a better choice because they give you sustained energy.
If you eat lots of sugary foods, fizzy drinks and stimulants such as coffee, tea or alcohol, your blood sugar levels go up and down. This can make you irritable, anxious, and dizzy, It can also lead to poor concentration and aggressive behaviour.
PROTEIN
Proteins found mainly in meat, fish and soya products are broken down in the body to be used as amino acids, which are vital to good mental health. Brain messengers are made in the body from the proteins that we eat.
If we don’t get enough amino acids this can lead to feelings of depression, apathy, lack of motivation or tension.
GOOD FATS
Essential fats, found mainly in oily fish, seeds and nuts, cannot be made within the body, so we have to get them from food. Sixty per cent of the brain is made of fat, and the fats we eat directly affect its structure. A lack of omega-3 fatty acids has been linked to various mental health problems, including depression and lack of concentration.
BRAIN FOOD: TOP TIPS
Don’t skip meals. Eat three meals a day with two ‘healthy’ snacks (for example fruit or yoghurt) in between.
Eat breakfast within an hour of waking up. Never skip breakfast.
Try to have at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.
Try to drink 6-8 glasses of water every day.?
Mesotherapy Treatment
‘Looking good and feeling good has to be a combination of looking after your skin, treatments to help with any skin or facial imbalances, working out and eating well it’s a holistic approach’
Mesotherapy treatments help feed your skin directly by using tiny micro injections to deliver vitamins, minerals, anti-ageing boosters into the dermis of the skin. It’s a great treatment for all types of skin complaints from ageing, dry skin, and dull lifeless skin. Call Perfect Skin now for a consultation, treatments from £100.
Q & A
Q I have rough pimples on the backs of my arms and I’m feeling conscious about showing my arms in the summer, what can I do?
A It sounds to me like your suffering from a very common skin complaint called keratosis Pilaris, affecting around 1/3 people in the UK, thought to be caused by a hormonal imbalance and often runs in families. I advise gentle exfoliation up to three times a week and the use of a daily glycolic cream until symptoms are better then use twice a week to maintain. For more severe cases glycolic acid peels can be administered by a qualified practitioner.