This time of year (post holidays, pre-Spring) it's easy to let the gray skies, cold temps and shorter days affect your mood. But there are foods you can turn to that can help -- and I'm not talking about that half pint of Ben & Jerry's!
If you need to lighten things up, try adding some B vitamins -- they stimulate the brain's production of serotonin and will help you relax. Almonds, pistachios and walnuts are great sources of B6, and salmon, scallops, shrimp and yogurt will all boost your B12.
Want to manage your anger? Potassium lowers your blood pressure, and eating avocados, bananas, black beans, and potatoes should help. Do you get sick easily this time of year? Pound the vitamin C -- it's not just in orange juice. Blueberries, broccoli, green peppers and tomatoes are all good sources, and they won't just boost your immune system. They also help you de-stress by reducing free radicals.
Magnesium relaxes muscles, blood vessels and your GI tract, acting as a natural tranquilizer to help you get a deeper, more restful sleep. Chickpeas, lentils, oatmeal and spinach in your diet should give you the sweet dreams you deserve.
So make some changes to your diet, an you'll find yourself happier, calmer, and better rested. And much more likely to survive the winter of 2011 with a smile on your face.
