Posted on : September 27th, 2018
Followers of this blog know by now that nuts can be a wonderful part of a healthy diet for physical reasons. They are full of protein and lots of good nutrients and, when eaten in moderation, studies have shown that they can help lower your risk of heart disease, help control diabetes, lower your bad cholesterol, and decrease inflammation. But did you know that nuts can be good for your psychological well-being as well?
It’s true! And there are SO many reasons why:
According to a study reported in Science Daily, eating just one ounce of nuts per day was enough to raise serotonin levels in a study group that consisted of people with metabolic syndrome. People with this condition exhibit a cluster of symptoms becoming epidemic in our society: increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the middle, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels, all of which increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter in the body that decreases appetite and lifts your spirits. It’s essential for mood regulation, a good night’s sleep, a healthy sex drive, and a wide number of other functions. People with low serotonin typically are depressed (and that plays a significant role in weight gain and all the physical issues this study was investigating).
We probably do not know ALL the reasons why nuts boost serotonin but one reason is because they are a great source of Vitamin E which is a superb antioxidant. Oxidation is a natural process that produces energy we need for vital cell functions. But in excess, it creates oxidative stress that actually starts to create significant damage to our bodies and, especially, to our brains. For example, neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin are reduced and that can lead to poor mental health and depression. Antioxidants protect the body from oxidative stress and can even repair the damage it causes. And that helps to improve our mood.
B vitamins are essential in the production serotonin and dopamine. Studies show that high enough amounts of vitamins B6, B12, and folate (a form of B-9) in the diet can protect against depression and can improve a person’s mood if their diet has been deficient. Beans, fruits and vegetables and eggs are excellent sources of B Vitamins as are many nuts and seeds including almonds, walnuts and cashews.
I have one last tip when it comes to using nuts to improve your mood. Variety is the spice of life, right? And nuts can be used in so many ways to make so many delicious things to eat. Check out the wide variety of nut products at Maisie Jane’s and search this blog for recipes to use them in. Eating well makes life fun!
Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products, Inc. was founded on strong beliefs and passion for offering unique, flavorful, top-quality, nut products. We strongly believe in earth-friendly practices that start on our family owned and operated orchards. We use Organic farming practices and continue in the process by using all-natural ingredients with no preservatives or GMOs. We believe in honest, friendly and helpful customer relations at all levels. We take pride in every task, every day, with every person.
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