Holistic Nutrition Principles and Programs Can Improve Your Mood and Health
It is quite likely that, during the course of casual conversations, residents of Canada and elsewhere have admitted to overeating or late-night snacking as their coping mechanism when feeling down or blue. The term comfort food is often used in their justifications for such impulses, although the majority would confess deep-down-inside that consuming a one-liter container of double chocolate ice cream or a supersized bag of sour cream and onion potato chips will likely have some negative repercussions on their physical health.
Yes, people often look to various foods in an attempt to boost their mood/spirits, only to find that their relief is generally short-lived and is customarily followed by guilt over their food choices. But this type of scenario does not have to end on a sour note; by adopting the doctrines of holistic nutrition, i.e. programs that place an importance on eating whole foods from Canada and abroad, you can boost your mood and simultaneously achieve a better overall state of health.
Mood-Boosting Food Choices, Suggested by Our Certified Holistic Nutritionists
Whole foods are customarily defined as foods that have undergone minimal refinement or processing and are free of additives or artificial substances; to that end, the certified holistic nutritionists at the Edison Institute of Nutrition recommend making choices from the following list of foods (presented here in alphabetical order) if/when you feel a need to lift or boost your mood:
- Asparagus: a good source of folic acid that also helps enhance the function of other mood-lifting nutrients in your body, such as vitamin D; for the best nutritional value, it should be eaten on the day it is purchased and prepared either steamed or sautéed
- Avocados: high in mood-boosting B‑vitamins, i.e. B1 and B5; can be consumed raw with a sprinkle of lemon juice, spread on toast, or mashed as part of a guacamole dip
- Bananas: contain tryptophan, a protein that the body converts into serotonin which helps people to relax, improves their mood, and makes them feel happier in general (for more on bananas see how bananas can keep you healthy and happy)
- Dark Chocolate: made from cocoa powder, which is rich in antioxidants that help in reducing blood pressure and potentially improving mood; be sure to choose chocolate that is organic or at least 70% cacao
- Kelp: has a high iodine content; iodine helps promote healthy thyroid function which supports mood and energy levels. Can be the ideal substitution for salty potato chips
- Kidney Beans: a superb source of B1 Thiamin, B3 Niacin, and folic acid that can be added to chili, curry or a rice dish; soak before cooking to limit flatulence after eating
- Legumes: includes a wide range of beans and peas that contain vitamins B1, B5 and D, as well as flavonoids; these latter compounds are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits
- Oranges: more than just a source of vitamin C, oranges are loaded with vitamin B5 and phosphorus, a mood-lifting mineral; ensure that the oranges are organic and not traditionally-farmed in order to avoid potential exposure to pesticides
- Wild Salmon: not to be confused with fish that likes to party, but rather salmon that is naturally-spawned vs farmed; wild salmon is high in omega-3s and low in mercury
Pursue Your Interest in Holistic Nutrition through Distance Learning Programs
If the above recommendations and their benefits with respect to improvements in mood and overall health are intriguing to this point, it may be a worthwhile investment of time to further your interest by investigating the online holistic nutrition programs offered by the Edison Institute of Nutrition in Toronto, Ontario.
The Edison Institute of Nutrition is recognized as a top online school for holistic nutrition programs in Canada; through the support of our certified holistic nutritionists, individuals throughout Canada can participate in distance learning programs that can appeal to their nutrition-related interests in a number of ways, including:
- How to improve their mood and their overall health
- Strengthening their understanding of holistic nutrition
- Becoming a holistic nutrition resource for family/friends
- Pursuing their diploma and certification in holistic nutrition
For additional insight on our online holistic nutrition programs, including our Introductory Program as well as our Diploma in Holistic Nutrition Program, call the Edison Institute of Nutrition in Montréal, Quebec today at or contact us to speak with an educational instructor or advisor.
