We all want to get through our days with grace and strength. Do a good job at work, be kind and gentle with our kids, keep up on our emails, respond to a friend in need, and the list goes on. Staying focused and strong mentally can be just as hard, or even harder, than staying strong physically. We're pulled in so many directions, taking in an unprecedented amount of information (Don't believe me? Read this.), and often trying to manage all of it on too-little sleep (What? You thought you were the only one? Not so. Check this out.).
Thankfully, this is one of the many, many areas where good nutrition can help. There are a variety of nutrients that have been studied and shown to improve both mood and mental focus. Here are just a few to get you started:
Vitamin D: Many of us don't get enough Vitamin D. A lot of our Vitamin D supply is absorbed from sunlight through our skin, and since we spend much more time indoors than our ancestors did, it can be hard to get enough of the stuff, especially in winter. The result is quite literally depressing. Insufficient amounts of Vitamin D have been linked to depression in both men and women. But Vitamin D isn't good for mood alone; it also helps maintain a healthy immune system and protects bones when paired with calcium. Luckily, it can be found a variety of foods, including:
- Fatty fish like salmon, trout, tuna (including canned), and eel
- Chanterelle Mushrooms
- Orgain Almond Milk
- Fortified Cow's Milk
- Fatty fish like mackerel, salmon, trout (including canned), tuna, and eel
- Flaxseed oil
- Edamame (soy beans)
- Walnuts
- Shellfish
- Fatty fish
- Red meat
- Milk, cheese, and other dairy products
- Orgain Superfoods powder (which is vegan-friendly)
- Fortified cereals
- Fortified soy products