I hope you had a wonderful summer season!
Here’s to a healthy, productive and uplifting fall season ahead.
Summer Sun Burnout?
After the damage is done, some foods can help to get your skin back on track! These include foods high in vitamins A, C, selenium and omega 3 fatty acids. Foods rich in vitamin E include nuts, seeds and plant oils like olive and sunflower oils. Vitamin C is found in a range of fruits and vegetables such as lemons, cantaloupe, kiwi fruit, tomatoes and broccoli. Foods rich in selenium include brazil nuts, oysters, and tuna. High fat fish such as salmon contain the essential fatty acid omega 3, which helps to moisturize and hydrate the skin from within.
Mood Boosting Foods for Post Summer Season
As the summer months come to an end, I encounter many people who begin to feel a sense of malaise. As the fall season approaches us maintaining an active lifestyle and positive outlook is critical to beat those “winter blahs.”
Many of the symptoms of depression can be directly linked to vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the standard American diet (which is largely comprised of empty carbs, caffeine and sugar). Avoiding depression or recovering from a depressive episode may often be as easy as boosting your consumption of key foods that help regulate brain chemistry.
Scientists at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society presented a study looking at more than 1,700 substances of common foods and their potential effects in enhancing mood.
In conjunction to similar studies, they found that the chemicals in chocolate, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, teas and omega 3’s have a positive effect on mood and may help to smooth out mood swings. The study looked specifically at chemical structures in food and how they are similar to approved anti-depressants. They concluded that although food is not a substitute for prescribed medications, eating specific foods more often and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can boost one’s mood.
Men listen up! Daily consumption of walnuts supports sexual health
Some studies have suggested that male fertility has declined in industrialized nations, possibly due to pollution, poor lifestyle habits, and/or an increasingly Western-style diet. A paper just released in Biology of Reproduction’s showed that when men (aged 21 to 35) ate a 2.5 oz serving of walnuts daily, semen quality was significantly improved over 12 weeks. The reason? Researchers attribute the rich sources of α-linolenic acid (ALA) as natural plant source of omega-3 from walnuts. Other sources include fish, fish oil supplements, flaxseed or chia seeds.
Yours in Health & Beauty,
Paula Simpson