Friday, July 8, 2011



Food and Your Mood (part 2)

if you've seen the eye-opening documentary Food INC.


(movie shines light on how big companies have been ravaging the earth to make as much monetary profit as possible -
to the point they're pumping chemicals into the ground and into the food people eat)

in the movie they refer to tomatoes you find in massive supermarkets as 'nominal tomatoes'
so little nutrients in them, not to mention pretty devoid of flavor --
compare to a ripe luscious red juicy orb you'd pick from some well-tended family farm's garden -- nutrient-dense and bursting with flavor

vast fields of plants subjected to commodification -- veggies yanked before they're even ripened -- covered in pesticides and who-knows-what's inside
onto the truck they're packt -- then in many cases flown over seas (all that fuel burned -- all that exhaust blown into the air) ---- to onto shelves or bins in some giant 'supermarket'

'nominal tomatoes'

that all to say: be sure you are getting your food from organic and natural food stores e.g. Whole Foods, Westerly, Lifethyme, Earthmatters, list goes on..
http://www.lifethymemarket.com/

when possible steer clear of 'nominal' fruits and veggies sold at supermarkets or cheap delis;
big businesses that tend to focus more on the bottom line than on the treatment of the earth

think about how intimate food is -- it goes into your mouth -- and think about how integral it is to who you are, I mean, what you eat enters your blood and makes up parts of your body in time -- what the body totally regenerating every seven years and all -- you're another body -- food turns into you in a sense -- your eyeballs, skin, fingernails, hair, teeth, you name it

therefore be aware of what goes in --
do your homework, know what what will result from your actions -- be wise my friend

Ok, time to shift to
Neurotransmitters ------ brain regulators

Our Key Stimulatory Neurotransmitters include:
Dopamine: turns on the brain -- the body makes dopamine from L-tyrosine -- several vitamins and minerals are needed for the conversion
Noradrenaline: contributes to upbeat moods, alertness, motivation
Adrenaline: 'fight or flight' -- epinephrine instantly sharpens the mind
Phenylethylamine: promotes feelings of love and bliss

Key Calming Neurotransmitters:
Serotonin: hepls maintain restful sleep
Gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA]: helps with calmness and mental focus, filters out distractions
Melatonin: helps make us sleepy

Vitamins : )

B-Vitamin Complex: an
excellent first choice for those who would like to "brighten" their moods
suggestion: take a high-potency B-complex supplement, which contains 50-100mg of B1, B2 and B3

* be sure to buy any vites from legit health food stores like ones listed above rather than off the shelf of franchises such as RITE AID or CVS

B1 [thiamin]: A study at the University of Whales found that students who took 50mg of B1 daily for 2 months felt more composed, clearheaded, and energetic. "Their reaction times sped up as well". suggestion: 50 -100 mg daily

B2 [riboflavin]: combats migraines -- if you know someone who suffers tell him/her to stock up

B3: helps with serotonin production

Vitamin B6: "the single most important B vitamin in terms of mood"
*if taken too late in day however it "can increase dream intensity"
suggestion: 50 -100 mg daily

B12: deficiencies of vitamin B12 can sometimes cause "brain fog"
suggestion: 100 - 1,000 mcg daily ---- * the sublingual form will bypass digestion time-frame

Folic Acid: works with B vites to make neurotransmitters
sug: 400 - 800 mcg daily

Choline: also works with B vites
sug: 200-500mg daily

Vitamin C: a great vitamin -- load up 1,000 - 5,000 mg daily
protects brain cells against toxicity

D3: builds strong bones, maintains muscles, reduces risk of skin cancer
Also, has "impressive anti-depressive benefits" -- good for chasing away wintertime blues
sug: 2,000 to 5,000 IU daily

Chromium: helps regulate insulin function and blood glucose

Magnesium: influences heart rate and muscle tone.. can reduce muscle tension

Health-Promoting Fats

Omega-3 fish oils: Yeyaa I just got a bottle of 100% Norwegian capsules -- good stuff =)
Found in coldwater fish (e.g. salmon). "They are incorporated into the walls of brain cells, where they increase the activity of genes involved in neurotransmitter activity and connections between brain cells."

Phosphatidylserine: enhances communication between brain cells.. reduces the release of cortisol.. can improve memory, mood, and reduce "neurotic" behavior

Amino Acids:
5-HTP -- promotes restful sleep
L-Tyrosine: may help people who lack drive
N-acetylcycteine: immune enhancer

Herbal Remedies:

Gingko: improves thinking speed and memory, can increase blood circulation, leading to better oxygenation and delivery of nutrients to brain cells.. boosts activity in genes involved with speech, logic, and emotional responses. "In a British study, students taking gingko supplements had improvements in memory and faster thinking processes."
sug: 90 to 200 mg daily

Ginseng: considered an 'adaptogen' because it helps people to adapt to stress. aids memory

Rhodiola: sometimes described as "Russian ginseng" is a potent stress-buffering plant.
enhances both mental and physical performance. promotes repair of injured brain cells.

St. John's Wort: what a name huh.. an anti-depressant

Other Important Nutritional Compounds:

Probiotics: "good" bacteria that inhabit our digestive tract. aid food digestion, make small amounts of vitamins, help immunity.. the human gut contains 10 times the number of bacteria as cells in the entire body. research has it's origin with the idea that the gut functions as a "second brain"? --- I recommend drinking Kombucha -- contains billions of micro-organisms =)

Resveratrol: plays a key role in longevity in many species, including people

Neurotransmitters help with mod problems such as:
Addictions
Anxiety, nervousness, tension
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Fuzzy Thinking
Impulsiveness and Distractibility
Irritability, Anger, Aggressiveness
Memory Problems
Mood Swings
OCD
PMS
Sleep problems
Stress

Driving this home

Multi-Vitamin
B-Complex
Omega fish oil pills
Ginko Biloba pills
good strong green tea
fresh fruits and veggies
a juicer
coconuts
raw cashews (mood enhancers)
raw walnuts
Chia seeds
Maca -- sprinkle on cereal
raw Cacao
Goji Berries :d
boil your water to clean it -- then let it cool in fridge (refrain from drinking bottled water -- watch the documentary 'Tapped')
research B17 -- found in the seeds of apricots
'earthing': walking in grass without shoes -- beach too -- touch trees and rocks
travel into nature time to time and breath fresh air
breathing exercises -- through nose to expanding belly
meditate and pray for God to bless your health

could go on and on -- what suggestions and advice can you think of

Healthy eating friends!
Imagine you and your friends eating fresh, nutrient-rich foods and ridding 'brain fog' and experiencing a surging energy and sharp thinking

why is it that so many people are scraping with their fingernails to pay bills and have to skip meals or buy 'nominal' foods to stick in mouth to make hunger go away

time to put nutritious foods into the hands of people
imagine a group of optimally functioning human beings

the way we live as humans has to change

be a part of making the community you live in
cognizant of what they are eating and drinking

2011, The Year of Clarification

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUx8_CKr0dk

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